BBC Requests Employees to Remove Tiktok From Corporate Devices

TikTok should be deleted from all corporate devices except those used for editorial or marketing purposes, according to the BBC.

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The BBC reportedly sent guidance on Sunday advising employees not to install TikTok on corporate devices unless they have a legitimate business need for it. If you don't have a business need for TikTok, it should be deleted."

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Chinese internet company ByteDance's social media app was banned on government phones amid fears of sensitive data leaks.

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BBC spokesperson said in a statement that the BBC takes the safety and security of its systems, data, and people extremely seriously.

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“TikTok is one of the third-party platforms that we constantly review and we will continue to do so in the future.”

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There will be no change to the way the corporation uses the video-sharing platform to promote its content, including news stories, but the corporation will continually assess the situation to ensure that it does not continue to do so.

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The move represents a significant shift for the broadcaster, which has launched numerous sites on the app in an effort to expand its following.

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With 4.4 million followers, the official BBC TikTok account is still active and hasn't stopped posting new content.

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A number of other pages, such as those for BBC News, BBC Sport, and BBC Radio 1, are still accessible.

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Zoe Kleinman, the BBC's technology editor, tweeted to indicate the network had taken action: "Today, the BBC issued a warning to its employees asking them not to use TikTok on company phones unless there is a genuine editorial or professional need.

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"Of course, I'm affected by this. Yet, the overall picture is that TikTok rejects any data exchange with China.

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Nobody has discovered a smoking gun, yet the fears continue to rise.

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Bans, according to TikTok, are "motivated by wider geopolitics" and are based on "basic misconceptions," the social media platform said in response to the BBC's decision.

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A social media app representative stated: "While the BBC's advice disappointed us, we are glad that TikTok can still be utilized for editorial, marketing, and reporting purposes."

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"The BBC has a significant presence on our platform, addressing our engaged community through a variety of accounts that cover everything from news to music, both in the UK and internationally.”

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"We continue to be in frequent contact with the BBC and are committed to working with them to address any issues they may have. We feel these restrictions have been founded on fundamental misunderstandings and influenced by broader geopolitics."

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Allegations that TikTok provides user data to the Chinese government have been categorically refuted.