Cyber security fears | Is it time to ban TikTok from your company devices?

The BBC has followed the UK Government by urging staff to delete TikTok from their work devices, amid growing privacy and security concerns about the app.

In recent weeks, fears have grown that the app could harvest data from corporate phones and share it with the Chinese government. The popular social media platform’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in Beijing, and in 2021, China's government acquired a one per cent stake and one of three seats on the board of the firm.

TikTok says the bans are based on "fundamental misconceptions”, but the concerns have been substantial enough for the national broadcaster to prohibit its use on business phones. BBC staff will still be permitted to have the app on their personal device and are allowed to keep it on their work phones if it is necessary for their jobs.

In an email to staff, the national broadcaster said: "The decision is based on concerns raised by government authorities worldwide regarding data privacy and security.