The UK could ban TikTok from government devices and won't rule out a nationwide block on the popular video app.
Following news that the EU and USA are banning TikTok from government devices, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the BBC the government will 'look at what our allies do' amid fears that the app, which is owned by a Chinese firm, poses a surveillance risk.
Meanwhile, UK security minister Tom Tugendhat said on Tuesday that he is looking at the 'threats' and 'risks' posed by TikTok and is reviewing it as a 'hugely important question'.
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TikTok has always denied claims that it shares data with Chinese authorities. However, there are laws in China which force firms to assist the Communist Party when needed.
The US government and the European Commission have already banned the app on work devices for officials, and Rishi Sunak is being urged to do the same by Conservative MPs.
During a visit to San Diego this week, Mr Sunak told the BBC: "We take the security of devices seriously and we look also at what our allies are doing."
Meanwhile, Mr Tugendhat told Times Radio: "We need to make sure our phones are not spyware.
"Understanding the challenges these apps pose, what they are asking for and how they reach into our lives, is incredibly important. That's why I've asked the National Cyber Security Centre to look into this."
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A TikTok spokesperson said: "While we await details of any specific concerns the UK government may have, we would be disappointed by such a move.
"Similar decisions elsewhere have been based on misplaced fears and seemingly driven by wider geopolitics, but we remain committed to working with the government to address any concerns."
According to Bloomberg, TikTok's US leadership is looking at splitting with Chinese parent company ByteDance to calm fears about privacy.
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