Britain is considering completely banning TikTok, says minister

TikTok could be completely banned in the UK, the security minister has suggested.

The app has faced a number of bans in countries around the world, including the US and Europe, where it has been banned from official devices. In other countries like India, the app has been completely banned, for all users.

Britain is considering implementing one of those bans, looking at the “threats” and “risks” posed by the Chinese-owned app, a minister has said.

Tom Tugendhat said Tuesday he is waiting for a review from the National Cyber ​​Security Center before deciding on the “very important question.”

Under pressure from some senior MPs, Rishi Sunak has suggested Britain could follow the US and EU in banning the social media app from government phones and devices.

The Prime Minister said Britain would “look at what our allies are doing”, with Washington and the European Commission banning TikTok on staff phones.

Tugendhat was asked if he would go ahead and order a full ban on the app, like those ordered by India and former US President Donald Trump.

He told Times Radio: “I haven’t and the Prime Minister asked me to defend the leading democracy task force a little while ago and as part of that we are looking at the various threats against parliamentarians but also against journalists.

“Looking at the different apps people have on their phones and the implications for them is a hugely important issue, and I’ve asked the National Cyber ​​Security Center to look into this.”

Pressed on whether this means there could be a complete ban on the app, he said: “It will be addressed with the challenges we face, with the threats we face. I’m not going to give you an answer until I know what the risks are . is.”

Trump’s ban, which faced a series of legal challenges and never took effect, was lifted by his successor in the White House, Joe Biden.

Tugendhat, who is seen as a China hawk in the Conservative Party, noted the Indian government’s ban on many Chinese-owned apps.

Speaking on Sky News, he said: “What is absolutely clear is that for many young people, TikTok is now a source of news, and rightly so, we know who owns the news sources in the UK… it’s important that we know who own news sources that flow into our phones.”

TikTok has long maintained that it does not share data with China, but Chinese intelligence laws require firms to assist the Communist Party when requested.

Critics fear the policy could reveal Western data to Beijing.

Parliament’s TikTok account was shut down last year after MPs raised concerns about the firm’s links to China.

Additional reporting from the Press Association