TIKTOK is to be banned on government phones over security fears, ministers will announce today.
The Chinese-owned app won’t be allowed on top phones handling sensitive information after the announcement.
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It comes after a string of other countries have done the same thing – including the EU and the US, over concerns about the amount of data that they are getting about top officials.
Cabinet minister Oliver Dowden is expected to make the official announcement later in the House of Commons.
Rishi Sunak made a big hint it was coming when he said the UK will “look at what our allies are doing” before making any decisions.
Ministers have previously admitted that there could be security fears around the app.
Earlier this week, security minister Tom Tugendhat told Sky News he had asked the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to look into the app.
He said: “Looking at the various different apps people have on their phones and the implications for them is a hugely important question and I’ve asked the National Cyber Security Centre to look into this.”
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He added: “It will be addressed with the challenges we face, with the threats we face.
But TikTok has said any fears about its app are misguided.
TikTok, owned by Chinese technology giant ByteDance, has amassed more than 1billion users worldwide since it launched six years ago
Today China accused the US of spreading disinformation and suppressing the app after reports that Biden was calling on its Chinese owners to sell their stakes in the popular app.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the US had not provided evidence it was a threat to national security.
He said: “The U.S. should stop spreading disinformation about data security, stop suppressing the relevant company, and provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for foreign businesses to invest and operate in the U.S.”
