TikTok to be banned on all parliamentary devices 'for cyber security'

On the same day the UK government made the announcement, TikTok's chief executive faced a grilling over security concerns in the US congress, ITV News US Correspondent Dan Rivers reports

TikTok will be blocked from "all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network," it has been announced.

The Scottish government has followed suit and announced on Thursday that it would ban the video-sharing app from official devices.

Parliament cited the need for cyber security as it blocked TikTok from all of its devices and networks in the latest ban imposed on the Chinese-owned social media app over security concerns.

A spokesman for Parliament said the app "will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network”.

The commissions of the House of Commons and House of Lords announced on Thursday they will follow the move taken by the government on official devices.

"Cyber security is a top priority for Parliament, however we do not comment on specific details of our cyber or physical security controls, policies or incidents," the spokesman added.

Noted political TikTokers such as Energy Security Grant Shapps will be able to continue using the app on their phones’ data but will be blocked from accessing it on parliamentary Wi-Fi.

The Scottish government is imposing the ban on official devices over concerns “on the potential tracking and privacy risks from certain social media apps”.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “Currently there is limited use of TikTok within government and limited need for staff to use the app on work devices.

“This ban will be implemented immediately. It does not extend to personal devices used by staff or the general public.”

TikTok, owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance, argues that it does not share data with China.

But Beijing’s intelligence legislation requires firms to help the Communist Party when requested.

Last week, the app was banned on government phones and devices, following advice from cyber security experts.

A spokesperson for TikTok said the company was "disappointed", adding the bans were based on "fundamental misconceptions and driven by wider geopolitics".

The move mirrored similar bans imposed in the United States and European Commission.

As the threat of a nationwide US ban grows, the chief executive of TikTok faced a grilling from a US congressional committee to make his case for why the hugely popular video-sharing app should not be prohibited.

Politicians pushed Shou Zi Chew on the safety of young users and allegations that the app is a national security risk - both of which the TikTok boss denied were an issue.

“Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” Mr Chew said.

Chew pushed back against the idea that TikTok's ownership was an issue.

“Trust is about actions we take," Chew said. "Ownership is not at the core of addressing these concerns.”

In one of the most dramatic moments, Republican Rep. Kat Cammack played a TikTok video that showed a shooting gun with a caption that included the House committee holding the hearing, with the exact date before it was formally announced.

“You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security, privacy and security of 150 million Americans where you can’t even protect the people in this room,” Ms Cammack said.

TikTok spokesperson Ben Rathe said the company on Thursday removed the violent video aimed at the committee and banned the account that posted it.

Politicians sought to paint a picture of TikTok as a Chinese-influenced company interested in gaining profit at the cost of Americans’ mental and physical health.

Committee members showed a host of TikTok videos that encouraged users to harm themselves and commit suicide.

Many questioned why the platform’s Chinese counterpart, Douyin, does not have the same controversial and potentially dangerous content as the American product.

Mr Chew responded that it depends on the laws of the country where the app is operating. He said the company has about 40,000 moderators that track harmful content as well as an algorithm that flags material.

“I don’t think I can sit here and say that we are perfect in doing this,” Mr Chew said. “We do work very hard.”

A US ban on an app would be unprecedented and it’s unclear how the government would enforce it.

What did Boris Johnson really know about Downing Street’s notorious parties? With fresh revelations from our sources, in their own words, listen to the definitive behind-closed-doors story of one of the biggest scandals of our era