TikTok is now prohibited from being on any government phone in the United Kingdom due to “security concerns” the country has on possible data extraction.
As reported by Reuters, the Chinese-owned video app is being restricted on government devices for fear of sensitive government information ending up in the hands of the Chinese government.
Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said that “the security of sensitive government information must come first, so today we are banning this app on government devices.”
The UK is not the first country to effect such a ban as other Western countries like the United States, Belgium, Canada, and the European Commission have all banned the app from any of its official devices.
A TikTok spokesperson, in response to news of the ban, said that the company was disappointed with the decision and is based on “fundamental misconceptions.”
What do you think of the ban? Do you think the Philippine government should follow suit?