Parliament Blocks TikTok from Its Devices and Network

The commissions of the House of Commons and House of Lords have announced that they will follow the government's move on official devices and block TikTok from parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network. This decision was made to enhance cyber security. While TikTok can still be used on personal devices while on the parliamentary estate, these devices must not be connected to the parliamentary Wi-Fi network. Similarly, in Scotland, TikTok has been banned from government phones and other devices. TikTok called parliament's move "misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions about our company," saying that the ban will deprive users of access to and engagement with their representatives. The video-sharing app has been under increasing scrutiny over its security and data privacy, with concerns it could be used to promote pro-Beijing views or gather user data. The EU Commission and more than half of US states and Congress have already introduced a ban on staff phones over concerns around potential cyber attacks.