TikTok remains banned on all UK government phones – despite ministers launching an official account, Downing Street has said.
The ‘ukgov’ account was created last week and has so far posted a series of public service messages, on topics including digital driving licences and Labour’s plan to boost neighbourhood policing.
Number 10 has indicated a security exemption has been made for the account, insisting the ban on TikTok on official government devices – which began in 2023 – remains in place.
The ban was introduced after a review by Rishi Sunak’s government amid security concerns about TikTok’s owner, the Beijing-based company ByteDance.
Asked about the new TikTok account, the prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “We’ve always said that we keep the way in which we communicate with the public under review to make sure that we are reaching people with information on government services and how we’re improving the lives of working people, and we always keep social media practices under review.”
He added: “In line with security advice, we’ve been permitted the use of a UK government TikTok account… under specific circumstances.”
When asked about the ban, the spokesman added there have been “no changes to the security policy”.
“Restrictions on the use of the app on most government devices remain in place,” he said. “It was always the case that there were specific exemptions for the use of TikTok on government devices where required for work purposes, and those exemptions are only granted by security teams on a case-by-case basis and with security mitigations put in place.
“That is what has happened in the case of the UK Government TikTok account.”
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The spokesman did not comment on whether safety measures mean there are specific government mobile devices designated for using TikTok.
In 2022, a UK parliament TikTok account was closed down amid security fears.
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The ukgov account launch comes as Sir Keir Starmer’s government is striving for warmer relations with China – one of the UK’s biggest trade and investment partners.
Its most viewed video – which lists government pledges such as reducing NHS waiting times and building more homes – has been viewed just over 12,000 times. The account currently has more than 360 followers.
Amid the push to strengthen the UK’s ties with China, Foreign Secretary David Lammy will this week meet with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in London.
