For fear of leaking "sensitive information". Britain bans TikTok from government phones

Following in the footsteps of the United States, Canada and European countries, the United Kingdom announced yesterday a ban on the Chinese application "TikTok" on government agencies, with immediate effect, against the backdrop of fears of the leakage of "sensitive information".

Secretary of State Oliver Dowden, whose portfolio includes cybersecurity, told parliament that "we will ban the use of TikTok on government agencies" and that will have an "immediate effect."

Critics of TikTok, which allows sharing short videos and is popular among young people, accuse the app of giving Chinese authorities access to user data around the world, which the app denies.

The British minister said it was a "preventive" measure, adding: "We know there is already limited use of TikTok within the government, but it's a good electronic hygiene ... Given the particular risks associated with government agencies that may contain sensitive information, it is prudent and appropriate to restrict the use of certain applications."

The approach follows similar bans by the United States, Canada and the European Union, Oliver Dowden said.

China has urged the United States to stop "unprovoked attacks" on TikTok after the U.S. government asked Chinese parent company ByteDance to give up its shares in the app or face a ban on national security grounds.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told the press Wednesday that Washington "has not yet provided evidence that TikTok threatens the national security of the United States."