BBC Bans TikTok Amid Fears Potential Spying

The BBC has urged staff to delete TikTok from work devices unless they need it for business reasons amid fears about the social media firm’s relationship with the Chinese government.

However, corporation bosses are considering going further and banning the app outright on work smartphones.

Last week TikTok was banned from all Government phones over fears that sensitive data could be accessed by China’s government.

The BBC has now issued its own guidance for staff – despite the fact that the broadcaster has targeted TikTok as a key way to reach younger audiences. Staff have been told that usage of TikTok on corporate devices is still allowed for ‘editorial and marketing purposes’.

But the guidance states: ‘We don’t recommend installing TikTok on a BBC corporate device unless there is [a] justified business reason. We will continue to monitor and assess the situation.’

TikTok said last night it was disappointed by the move, which it said was ‘based on fundamental misconceptions’.

In further guidance, staff were also told: ‘If the device is a corporate device, and you do not need TikTok for business reasons, TikTok should be deleted from the BBC corporate mobile device.’ The BBC was keen to make clear how seriously it takes any potential threat to cyber security.

Despite its new guidance, it is understood that it will continue to serve audiences with news content on TikTok. A Q&A in the guidance for staff said the decision reflected ‘concerns’ raised by governments around the world about security and data privacy.

It said that if people had TikTok on a private phone it was up to the individual to decide whether to keep the app.

In a section about whether the Corporation would impose a ban on TikTok on corporate devices, it added: ‘We are reviewing the TikTok concerns and will provide further updates based on the Government and National Cyber Security Centre guidelines.’

TikTok’s owner previously admitted it had used data from the app to track journalists, including an individual at the Financial Times and another at Buzzfeed, to try to identify the source of company leaks.

Experienced BBC journalists have raised fears about the Corporation’s enthusiasm for the Chinese social media platform.

The Corporation said: ‘The BBC takes the safety and security of our systems, data and people incredibly seriously.

‘We constantly review activity on third-party platforms – including TikTok – and will continue to do so.’

A spokesman for TikTok said: ‘We are disappointed with the guidance that the BBC has shared, but welcome the fact TikTok can still be used as part of editorial, marketing and reporting purposes.

‘The BBC has a strong presence on our platform …

‘We believe these bans have been based on fundamental misconceptions and driven by wider geopolitics. We remain in close dialogue with the BBC and are committed to working with them to address any concerns.’