UK government bans TikTok on government devices

The UK government has announced, 16 March, that it has banned the social media app TikTok from all government electronic devices. The government said, ‘The ban comes after Cabinet Office Ministers ordered a security review. This looked at the potential vulnerability of government data from social media apps on devices and risks around how sensitive information could be accessed and used by some platforms.

‘Given the potentially sensitive nature of information which is stored on government devices, government policy on the management of third party applications will be strengthened and a precautionary ban on TikTok on government devices is being introduced.’

The decision, it noted, ‘is in line with similar restrictions brought in by key international partners, including the US and Canadian governments, and the European Commission.’

Oliver Dowden MP said, ‘The security of sensitive government information must come first, so today we are banning this app on government devices. The use of other data-extracting apps will be kept under review. Restricting the use of TikTok on Government devices is a prudent and proportionate step following advice from our cyber security experts.

‘TikTok requires users to give permission for the app to access data stored on the device, which is then collected and stored by the company. Allowing such permissions gives the company access to a range of data on the device, including contacts, user content, and geolocation data…Today’s ban does not extend to personal devices for government employees, ministers or the general public [but it does apply] to government corporate devices within all government departments.’

The government said that specific exemptions for the use of TikTok on government devices were being put in place where required for work purposes, but that ‘exemptions will only be granted by security teams on a case-by-case basis, with ministerial clearance as appropriate, and with security mitigations put in place.’