British broadcaster BBC has instructed its employees to delete the Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok app from their work mobile phones.
On the 19th (local time), the BBC circulated a staff directive stating, "We do not recommend installing the TikTok app on BBC corporate devices. Unless there is a legitimate business reason, the TikTok app must be removed," according to reports by The Guardian and others.
The BBC also advised employees who have the TikTok app installed on their personal phones used for work purposes to consult with the information security team. The directive explained, "This decision is based on concerns raised by various governments regarding data privacy and security."
Earlier, on the 16th, the UK government announced an immediate ban on the use of the TikTok app on government work devices. The government referred to this as 'cyber hygiene' and said the preventive decision was made following a review by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Dowden emphasized, "Security related to the government's sensitive information must be prioritized."
The UK government has not applied this ban to individual civil servants or the general public but urged caution by advising users to review data policies before using social media platform apps.
The Guardian assessed that the BBC's TikTok policy has changed rapidly.
Recently, the BBC viewed TikTok as a channel to reach new audiences, operating a TikTok channel for over a year and hiring a team of four TikTok experts. TikTok responded to the BBC's policy by saying, "While disappointing, we welcome that the platform will continue to be used for editorial, marketing, and news purposes."
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