MSPs and employees at Holyrood were “strongly” instructed to remove TikTok, including from mobile devices used to access the IT systems of the Scottish Parliament, in an email sent on Friday.
“After discussions with the National Cyber Security Centre, we are strongly advising that all members, members’ staff, parliament staff, and contractors’ staff remove the TikTok app from any device currently used to access the Scottish Parliament’s IT systems,” wrote Alan Balharrie, CIO and group head of digital services.
“Personally owned and SPCB-issued gadgets are included in this.
“Given the concerns over the data the TikTok application potentially acquire from devices, we are providing this warning based on a precautionary approach and the best information currently available to us.
“Based on the circumstances as we currently understand it, we believe that this advise is both appropriate and essential.
