TikTok: China-owned social media app set to be banned on UK government devices over data fears

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TikTok is expected to be banned on UK government phones and devices in an announcement later today.

TikTok could be banned on government devices, in an announcement expected from cabinet minister Oliver Dowden to Parliament today (March 16). The EU Commission and more than half of US states and Congress have already introduced a ban over concerns around potential cyberattacks.

Some fear TikTok could be used to gather data from devices and promote pro-China views. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously hinted at following moves made by the US and EU in banning the app on government devices, saying the UK will "look at what our allies are doing.”

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TikTok is owned by a Chinese company.TikTok is owned by a Chinese company.
TikTok is owned by a Chinese company.

Last year, the UK parliament closed down its TikTok account after concerns were raised by MPs. TikTok has hit back at government bans, calling them "misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions.”

TikTok first launched in China in 2016 and by October 2020 had surpassed 2 billion mobile downloads worldwide. It is owned and developed by Chinese based company ‘ByteDance’.

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