Security News > 2023 > March > BBC to staff: Uninstall TikTok from our corporate kit unless you can 'justify' having it
The world's oldest national broadcaster, the venerable British Broadcasting Corporation, has told staff they shouldn't keep the TikTok app on a BBC corporate device unless there is a "Justified business reason."
The national broadcaster told staffers in the in-house mag that while they could do what they liked with their personal phones "Based on your individual circumstances and data considerations," if the device is a BBC corporate device "And you do not need TikTok for business reasons," they must delete TikTok promptly.
BBC staff with TikTok on their personal phones that they also use for BBC work purposes are also told to contact the security tech team, presumably to be given a massive bollocking so someone can "Talk to you regarding your individual circumstances and the type of BBC information that you are working with." For the user, that's a brand new smartphone or tablet, for IT, that's a brand new headache.
The US has asked TikTok parent company ByteDance to sell its stake in TikTok or face a possible ban in the country.
A TikTok spokesperson told The Register it was "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."
A BBC spokesperson told The Reg: "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." The Beeb also added it wanted to make it clear you can still get your news on TikTok - but added it would continue to monitor and assess the situation.