The BBC said Monday that it had told staff to delete Chinese-owned video app TikTok unless it was needed for business reasons, with Western institutions increasingly taking a harder stance over data collection fears.
The British broadcasting giant reported that it sent staff a message on Sunday saying: "We don't recommend installing TikTok on a BBC corporate device unless there is a justified business reason.
"If you do not need TikTok for business reasons, TikTok should be deleted," it added.
Western authorities have been taking an increasingly firm approach to the app, owned by the firm ByteDance, citing fears that user data could be used or abused by Chinese officials.
The UK on Thursday announced a security ban on TikTok on government devices, in line with action by the European Union and the United States.
The BBC told AFP on Monday that it "takes the safety and security of our systems, data and people incredibly seriously".
It added that while usage of TikTok on its corporate devices is still permitted for editorial and marketing purposes, "we will continue to monitor and assess the situation".
The broadcaster has launched multiple pages on the app as it attempts to reach new audiences, and its official account has 4.4 million followers.
ByteDance has long insisted that it does not keep data in China or share it with Beijing.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Empowers Middle Class, Gives Unprecedented Push To Jobs: PM Modi On Budget
Donald Trump Joins TikTok, A Platform He Once Sought To Ban In US To Counter US Ban, TikTok Makes It Easier For Creators To Make Money TikTok Curbs State-Backed Media Amid Foreign Influence Concerns "Call Security": Chief Justice Blasts Lawyer, He Quotes Bible In Reply Budget 2024: Big Push For Jobs, New Tax Regime Benefits, Reward For Allies "Assuring Andhra We Are With Them": Nirmala Sitharaman On Special Package Farmer Leaders To Meet Rahul Gandhi Over Private Members' Bill Today Probe Agency Arrests 2 Linked To Funding Of Hizbul Mujahideen In J&K Kamala Harris Leads Trump In New Poll After Biden Dropout Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.