Parliament shuts down its TikTok account after concerns over platform's links to China

dailystar.co.uk:

TikTok account has been unceremoniously shut down after MPs complained about the social media platform's links to China.The app, which is owned by Chinese parent firm ByteDance, was to be used as a way to engage young people with politics.However, MPs have raised serious concerns about user data being sent to Beijing.READ MORE: What does 'zesty' mean on TikTok?

Sexual meaning explained as word goes viralThe tension between China and Parliament has heated up following Westminister banning Chinese company Huawei from involvement in the UK’s 5G network as well as China sanctioning several MPs for criticising the nation's treatment of the Uighur Muslim minority group.A UK Parliament spokesperson said: "Based on Member feedback, we are closing the pilot UK Parliament TikTok account earlier than we had planned."The account was a pilot initiative while we tested the platform as a way of reaching younger audiences with relevant content about Parliament."A group of senior Conservative MPs including the likes of Tom Tugendhat, Nus Ghani and former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, all complained about the short-lived TikTok account in a letter that was sent to the Speakers of the Commons and the Lords.The very same MPs who established their concern about the platform were also the ones who spoke out against human rights abuses as Duncan Smith praised the government for their decision to shut down the account.To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.He said: "We are pleased that Parliament, immediately they were told, understood there was a problem and shut it down."It's important for others to look at that now and we need to start talking to people about not using.