TikTok: Scottish Parliament urges MSPs to remove app for security reasons | UK News

Scottish MPs have been “strongly recommended” by Parliamentary Authorities to remove the controversial social media app TikTok from all devices.

The train follows a Decision to ban the app from UK government devices.

In an email on Friday, Holyrood MSPs and employees were “strongly” advised to remove them tick tockincluding personal devices used to access the Scottish Parliament’s IT systems.

Alan Balharrie, CIO and group leader for digital services, wrote: “Following discussions with the National Cyber ​​Security Centre, we strongly advise all Members, Members, Parliament staff and contractors to remove the TikTok app from all devices currently in use with access to IT – Systems of the Scottish Parliament.

“This includes personal devices and devices issued by SPCB.

“We are providing this advice based on a precautionary approach and the best information currently available to us given concerns about the information that the TikTok application may collect from devices.

“We consider this advice to be proportionate and necessary given the situation as we currently understand it.

“We will continue to work with cybersecurity partners, including the National Cyber ​​Security Center, and this recommendation will be reviewed.”

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TikTok from mobile phones banned by UK government
TikTok’s data craze is not an isolated one – and this ban deprives the government of a powerful tool

Cabinet Secretary Oliver Dowden announced the ban on TikTok from UK government phones in a statement before Parliament on Thursday.

He said there “could” be a risk in how government data and information is used by the app.

Mr Dowden added that while TikTok use is “restricted”, the ban is good cyber “hygiene” – bringing the UK in line with the US, Canada and the EU.

The video sharing app has come under increasing scrutiny Security and Privacywith concerns it could be used to promote pro-Beijing views or collect user data – something TikTok strongly denies.

TikTok, which is owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance, said it was “disappointed” with the decision, saying the bans were based on “fundamental misunderstandings and were driven by broader geopolitics.”

The spokesman added: “We remain committed to working with the government to address concerns but should be judged on facts and put on an equal footing with our competitors.

“We have begun implementing a comprehensive plan to further protect our European user data, which includes storing UK user data in our European data centers and tightening data access controls, including independent third-party oversight of our approach.”