TIKTOK is one of the world's most popular social media platforms, with millions of users across the world.
However, a number of governments have taken steps to ban the app due to concerns about the data used on the platform and who it is being handled by. This is what we know.
What is the Tik Tok row?
The popular app – known for its memes, dances and trends – exploded during lockdown.
But TikTok's Chinese roots have come under scrutiny.
Governments are raising security concerns over the app's potential ties to the Chinese state.
There are also questions regarding surveillance technology within the app, potential breaches of personal data and other matters including safety of users and regulation of content.
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At present there is no parental lock or way of policing the app.
Could TikTok be banned in the UK?
The app has been banned on UK government devices due to concern raised over government data being leaked.
This decision was taken on March 16, 2023, as the government want to ensure cybersecurity.
MPs who still have the app will find the service blocked if they tryand use it over Parliamentary wifi.
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However, there has been no information to suggest that any steps are going to be taken to ban the app from the wider public.
How many people in the UK use TikTok?
The UK is thought to have at least 23.3 million users of the app.
This was revealed in data released by Ofcom in 2022.
The data also showed that TikTok was fastest growing source of news between 2020 and 2022.
Will TikTok be banned in the US and other countries?
US President Joe Biden announced plans to ban the app if they refused to separate from parent company ByteDance.
This isn't the first time an American President attempted this, Donald Trump announced his intention to ban TikTok across the country, but was blocked from doing though by the courts.
India banned the app in 2020 following a conflict between Indian and Chinese troops, saying that it was to protect national security.
Pakistan has banned the app on four temporary occasions since October 2020, believing that the app promoted "Immoral content".
Has China banned the app?
TikTok is not accessible in China without using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
However, China has its own version of the app named DouYin, which is hugely popular.
DouYin also belongs to parent company ByteDance, who have been careful to distance themselves from the Chinese government.
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But the company was rocked by leaked reports published in the Guardian in 2019 that revealed that Beijing was instructing the app's moderators to remove videos mentioning Tiananmen Square or Tibetan Independence.
ByteDance, set up by Chinese tech mogul Zhang Yiming, posted a huge £3billion profit in 2019.
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