The calls to ban TikTok continue, with the BBC in the UK issuing a directive to staff to restrict their use of the app, and only install TikTok on a BBC corporate device, but only under ‘justified business reasons’. TikTok used strictly for corporate or business reasons? Oh, how the world has spiraled indeed.
The BBC
Based on a screenshot shared by Social Media expert Matt Navarra, the BBC is advising staff that they don’t need TikTok for work purposes, it should be deleted completely from their corporate device/s. As such, the BBC isn’t banning TikTok outright – and worth noting that the BBC’s TikTok account has over 4.4 million followers, posting every other day. What it’s looking to do is limit potential exposure in the app, in line with the UK Government’s decision to ban the app from all government devices last week.
It does make sense. The BBC is, in part, funded by the UK Government, so there is a direct connection in that sense. Given how the BBC is a critical news source for many people, there’s potential for its reporters and staff to be influenced by manipulation operations, if you are to consider the premise that the Chinese Government can extract data from TikTok for its own purposes.
That’s the pervasive concern – under China’s cybersecurity laws, any Chinese-owned company must share data upon request of the CCP. The issue then, is that TikTok data could be used to uncover potential vulnerabilities in user targets, which could see the CCP using TikTok insights to apply pressure to government officials or media entities, based on whatever information they can extract from related TikTok accounts.
It may not seem like a significant vector for concern, but maybe, if they could glean more information on someone’s kids or their location data, it’s possible that this type of information could provide an overview of vulnerabilities on potential targets, which is why it makes sense to see government and government-affiliated media reconsidering their usage of TikTok.
China’s continued support of Russia’s Ukrainian invasion, along with its own infringing military actions in neighboring regions, has prompted steadily increasing concerns among UN members. The real question now is whether or not the issues with TikTok data collection should extend beyond government and media staff, and whether or not regular users should also be considered potential vulnerabilities in the broader information war.
The Wrap
Right now, TikTok is on the verge of being banned almost anywhere outside of an Asian country. We’re not quite at that stage yet, but reports have suggested that the US Government has called on TikTok to divest from its Chinese ownership or risk an outright ban. Downright blackmail from the US there. We’ll likely learn more of TikTok’s fate this week, with CEO Shou Zi Chew set to appear before the US House Energy and Commerce committee on Thursday, which will likely be a make-or-break meeting for the app. Let’s all stay tuned.
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