UK Parliament Bans TikTok Over Security Concerns, Company Calls Move 'Misguided'

The UK Parliament has banned the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok from its network due to security concerns. The app, used by a number of British MPs will be blocked from devices issued to staff.

The UK Parliament has banned the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok from its network due to security concerns, as reported by BBC. According to a company spokesperson, the app, used by a number of British MPs will be blocked from devices issued to staff. He further said that the decision was taken after the UK government decided to ban ministers from using the video-sharing app on their work phones following a security review.

However, TikTok has denied allegations that it provides user data to Chinese government. In a statement, TikTok called Parliament’s move “misguided” and stated that it was "based on fundamental misconceptions about our company," BBC reported. Following the ban, MPs and guests in Parliament will be denied access to TikTok on devices connected to official Wi-Fi accounts.

TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has faced claims of being influenced by the Chinese government. After the UK Parliament announced its ban, a spokesman for the app said "despite our requests, we have not been offered any opportunity to address concerns," as quoted by BBC.

"Potentially depriving users from access to and engagement with their representatives is a self-defeating step, especially in our shared fight against misinformation," he added.

He further said, "We have begun implementing a comprehensive plan to protect further our European user data, which includes storing UK user data in our European data centres and tightening data access controls, including third-party independent oversight of our approach," as quoted by BBC.

Earlier on Monday, BBC said that it had told staff to delete TikTok unless it was needed for business reasons, with Western institutions increasingly taking a harder stance over data collection fears, as reported by the news agency AFP. The company reported that it sent staff a message on Sunday saying, "We don't recommend installing TikTok on a BBC corporate device unless there is a justified business reason. "If you do not need TikTok for business reasons, TikTok should be deleted," it added, as quoted by AFP.

The Scottish government on Thursday also announced that it will join the Welsh government in banning the app from official devices, as reported by BBC.