Amid fears that sensitive data leaks would occur, the UK defence chiefs were urged to take action and ban the controversial application known as TikTok.
UK Defence Chiefs Pressured to Ban TikTok Over Chinese Espionage Concerns
According to a former defence chief who spoke with The Telegraph, TikTok is a vital intelligence source for China's extensive network, and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) must cease using it right away.
The action comes after the US authorities declared last week that the app will be banned unless its Chinese owners sold the platform to a private enterprise.
The MoD continues to use TikTok to connect with British troops throughout the world in violation of Whitehall's prohibition on the app, despite rising security concerns.
IT security experts in Britain worry that data from the app could be harvested by Chinese spies, endangering their ability to maintain security.
Former Director of Defence Intelligence and head of the Royal Navy, Lord West, declared to National Security News and The Telegraph: “It would seem extraordinary if there is sufficient concern for the US to ban TikTok that we don’t take action regarding MoD and service personnel use.”
Rear Admiral Chris Parry, who combated in the Falklands, added: "Absolutely and without any hesitation, TikTok should be banned by the MoD.
“It gives away far too much intelligence, such as people making videos in front of their equipment, vehicles and ships. It can provide details of troops’ IDs and their locations. TikTok is also a route-one source into the China’s People’s Liberation Army - there’s no question. TikTok’s links to the Chinese government make it an agent of influence amongst our population, and it should be banned - it seems extraordinary that this hasn’t taken place already.”
The MoD claimed that devices and third-party software outside its private computer network were used to operate its TikTok account. According to its executives, the app is used by up to a billion people worldwide and has 23 million British users per month; as such, it leverages the channel to reach larger audiences.
After being selected as the new Defence Secretary in September of last year, Grant Shapps, who had previously been an active user of the app, was obliged to give it up.
The British forces have uploaded hundreds of films on TikTok, including clips from sailors aboard ships and those claiming to be stationed in Estonia.
As part of a NATO military force on alert in response to Vladimir Putin's aggressiveness in Ukraine, about a thousand British troops are stationed in Estonia.
Fearing that the software could endanger secret operations, the UK Special Forces have apparently been ordered to remove it from all military-issued and personal phones.
TikTok Data Privacy Concerns Amid Cybersecurity Warning
TikTok gathers an endless amount of user data and is able to recognise the internet protocol address, which is used to uniquely identify each device connected to the internet.
Biometric data and private identifiers, such as voice and facial prints, can also be gathered via TikTok.
While Instagram and other social media companies also gather comparable data, TikTok's ties to China are of concern to MI5, MI6, and GCHQ.
In an effort to assist UK firms in safeguarding themselves from espionage and state-sponsored hacking, MI5 has issued a warning over the cybersecurity danger posed by China and is establishing a new agency.
With more than a billion users, 150 million of whom are in the US, TikTok is accessible in more than 150 countries. The app is used monthly by about 23 million users in the UK.
TikTok is wholly owned as a division of ByteDance Ltd., a Chinese tech company.
Politicians in the US think ByteDance is controlled by the Chinese government, which might demand that US user data be transmitted to them at any time.
Chinese national security laws that require organisations to aid in intelligence collection are a source of concern.