Downing Street offers TikTok replace as US threatens to ban social media app
No10 has given an replace on TikTok’s utilization within the UK after the US threatened to ban the social media app.
Downing Street mentioned “the use of TikTok remains a personal choice for members of the public” regardless of being blocked on authorities gadgets. But she confirmed the Government’s consultants “continue to keep all these issues under review and monitor threats”.
The US House of Representatives on Wednesday handed a landmark invoice that might see TikTok banned within the nation. It will give ByteDance, the Chinese mum or dad firm that owns TikTok, six months to promote its stake within the app or will probably be blocked. The invoice will now have to be reviewed by the US Senate and be signed by President Joe Biden earlier than it turns into regulation.
Asked if the Government is contemplating following the US, the Prime Minister’s spokeswoman mentioned: “Obviously it is a matter for the US lawmakers in terms of the bill today. For our part, ensuring the security of UK data is a priority for the Government. Our experts continue to monitor threats to our data and we will not hesitate to take further action if necessary, to protect our national security.
“And you will bear in mind the Government has beforehand put restrictions on authorities gadgets, however extra broadly, the usage of TikTok stays a private alternative for members of the general public, and our National Cyber Security Centre has revealed steering on utilizing social media safely.”
Asked if they were considering a review specifically on TikTok, she added: “Our consultants proceed to maintain all these points underneath evaluate and monitor threats and clearly would take additional motion if needed, however no, no additional replace for you on that at the moment.”
The move from the US is in response to national security concerns about China’s influence over TikTok. Chinese companies must follow strict data laws which require them to share data with the government when requested.
TikTok has said it does not share US users data with the Chinese government. But newspaper investigations have suggested data is being unofficially shared between Tiktok in the US and ByteDance in China.
Republican US politician Mike Gallagher, who was one of the authors of the bill, said: “We can’t take the chance of having a dominant news platform in America controlled or owned by a company that is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party, our foremost adversary.”
