UK expected to ban TikTok from government mobile phones
Britain is expected to announce a ban on the Chinese owned video-sharing app TikTok on government mobile phones imminently, bringing the UK inline with the US and European Commission and reflecting deteriorating relations with Beijing.
The decision marks a sharp reverse from the UK’s previously relaxed position, but some critics and experts said Britain should also extend the ban to cover personal phones used by ministers and officials – and even consider a complete ban.
An announcement is expected from the Cabinet Office potentially as soon as Thursday, sources said, and it follows an official review involving the government’s National Cyber Security Centre, an arm of GCHQ, and similar bans announced by the European Commission last month and the US in the past three weeks
On Monday, prime minister, Rishi Sunak indicated he was considering whether to follow suit, saying he will take “whatever steps are necessary” to protect Britain’s security. The prime minister said the UK was “looking at what our allies are doing”, following initial reports that a ban would be recommended over the weekend.
At least two cabinet ministers use TikTok. Michelle Donelan, the science and technology minister, and Grant Shapps, the energy security and net zero secretary, also has an account, on an app used by millions of young people and a string of celebrities and other influencers.
Until recently, the UK had been relaxed about TikTok, with intelligence officials arguing that it was essentially for entertainment. Jeremy Fleming, the GCHQ boss, said last October said he would encourage young people to use TikTok, but said he would encourage them to “think about” how their personal data is used.
Concerns appears to be centred on long-standing
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