TikTok has been banned from London City Hall devices due to security concerns following the UK government’s decision. The move is part of a wider ban on the app across the Palace of Westminster, the Scottish government, and other official devices. The Greater London Authority stated that it takes information security seriously and will no longer provide the app on its devices. TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, claims that it does not share data with China. However, Beijing’s intelligence legislation requires companies to assist the Communist party when requested. The UK government announced the ban last week due to the risk of sensitive data being compromised. TikTok responded to the bans by saying that they are based on misconceptions and geopolitical factors. Meanwhile, TikTok is willing to meet with the mayor to address concerns and is implementing measures to safeguard European user data.
The Greater London authority (GLA) has banned TikTok on City Hall devices following the UK government’s decision. The move comes after the Chinese-owned app was blocked on UK parliamentary devices due to security concerns. The GLA stated that it takes information security “extremely seriously” and has implemented the rule to ensure that sensitive data is protected.
Similarly, the House of Commons and Lords banned the app from the Palace of Westminster and the wider parliamentary network citing the same reasons. The Scottish government also imposed a ban on official devices due to concerns about potential tracking and privacy risks from social media apps.
TikTok’s owner, ByteDance, claims that it does not share data with China. However, Beijing’s intelligence legislation mandates companies to assist the Communist party when requested. The UK government announced the ban last week due to the risk of sensitive data being compromised, leading to an angry reaction from Beijing. The Chinese embassy in the UK condemned the move as being based on political motives rather than facts and warned that it would ultimately harm the UK’s own interests.
TikTok has responded to the bans by stating that they are based on fundamental misconceptions and driven by wider geopolitics. As a result, the GLA will no longer be providing TikTok on their devices, aligning with the government’s decision to protect sensitive data.
TikTok is ready to meet with the mayor to address any concerns and asks to be judged based on facts and treated equally to competitors. The company has begun implementing a comprehensive plan to safeguard European user data, which includes storing UK user data in European data centers and tightening data access controls, with third-party independent oversight. Topics related to this news include social media, London, China, digital media, data and computer security, and news.
Don’t miss interesting posts on Famousbio
