British Parliament Blocks TikTok over Security Concerns

The British union flag flutters on the Victoria Tower at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain December 30, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville
The British union flag flutters on the Victoria Tower at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain December 30, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville
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British Parliament Blocks TikTok over Security Concerns

The British union flag flutters on the Victoria Tower at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain December 30, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville
The British union flag flutters on the Victoria Tower at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain December 30, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Britain's parliament will block TikTok on all devices on its network following a similar ban on government devices, becoming the latest Western institution to bar the Chinese-owned video app over security concerns.

"Following the government's decision to ban TikTok from government devices, the commissions of both the House of Commons and Lords have decided that TikTok will be blocked from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network," a parliament spokesperson said.

Britain last week banned the Chinese-owned video app on government phones.

"Cyber security is a top priority for parliament," the spokesperson added.

The United States, Canada, Belgium and the European Commission have already banned the app from official devices.

TikTok has come under increasing scrutiny due to fears that user data from the app owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance could end up in the hands of the Chinese government, undermining Western security interests.

The British parliament's ban was announced as TikTok's chief executive faced questions from US lawmakers who are convinced the app should be barred for being a potential national security threat to the United States.



Iran Nuclear Program a Threat to Israel and Europe, Says French FM as Araghchi Calls it a 'Right'

 Huge smoke rises up from an oil facility facility after it appeared to have been hit by an Israeli strike Saturday, in southern Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP)
Huge smoke rises up from an oil facility facility after it appeared to have been hit by an Israeli strike Saturday, in southern Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP)
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Iran Nuclear Program a Threat to Israel and Europe, Says French FM as Araghchi Calls it a 'Right'

 Huge smoke rises up from an oil facility facility after it appeared to have been hit by an Israeli strike Saturday, in southern Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP)
Huge smoke rises up from an oil facility facility after it appeared to have been hit by an Israeli strike Saturday, in southern Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP)

Tehran's nuclear program is a threat for the security of Israel and of Europe and diplomacy is the only way to avoid an escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Sunday.

"The Iranian nuclear program is an existential threat for the security of Israel and beyond the security of Europe. We always said the best way to prevent that threat, to contain it, remains diplomacy," Barrot told RTL radio.

Germany, France and Britain are ready to hold immediate talks with Iran over Tehran's nuclear program in an effort to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said earlier.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that Israel's attack on his country this week sought to "derail" nuclear talks with the United States.

"It is entirely clear that the Israeli regime does not want any agreement on the nuclear issue. It does not want negotiations and does not seek diplomacy," Araghchi told foreign diplomats, saying the attack launched on Friday was an "attempt to undermine diplomacy and derail negotiations".

"We are prepared for any agreement aimed at ensuring Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons," he stated, adding that Tehran would not accept any deal that "deprives Iran of its nuclear rights".