The Scottish Government and the UK Parliament have joined the list of companies that have banned the use of DictyOK on stateful devices. The restriction occurs as a security measure for fear of data leakage to the Chinese government.
In recent months, TikTok has been banned in US state systems and Canada under the same rationale (learn more below). The data leak relates to the fact that the app is owned and operated by Byte Dance Limited (“Bytes”), a private company based in Beijing, China.
The Scottish Government’s announcement was made this Thursday, the 23rd, by Prime Minister John Swinney. Speaking about the decision, he referred to the stance of other government leaders.
“Our decision to ban the use of TikTok follows our engagement with the UK government regarding potential surveillance and privacy risks,” Swinney said, according to international media.
The UK Parliament’s initiative was also confirmed by an internal report this Thursday. The restriction extends to any official agency device or connection. “For users currently accessing TikTok on a Parliament-issued device such as an iPad or iPhone, we are informing you that the Parliamentary Digital Service will remove the TikTok app from your device,” the statement said.
The organization recommends that British MPs who wish to continue using TikTok via a personal device do so through a browser rather than downloading the app.
UK
The UK government announced last Thursday, the 16th, that it will exclude TikTok from government devices. “We have examined the potential vulnerability of government data and the risks of how confidential information can be accessed and used on certain platforms,” it said. Note.
On the other hand, the United States in February this year suggested removing the platform from all body devices. In March, the US House passed a bill that would have opened up the possibility for President Joe Biden to ban TikTok in general in the country, affecting any user.
However, the total ban currently only occurs in India, where the platform has been banned since 2020 due to data breach fears.
With information from international organizations
Henry Blackwell is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. His work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism.