UK Parliament shuts down TikTok account due to China links
August 4, 2022, 12:43 pm

UK Parliament shuts down TikTok account due to China links

TikTok, the popular short-form video-based social media platform, is owned by ByteDance which is based in China - Photo. Pixabay

The British parliament announced Wednesday (August 3) that it is closing down its TikTok account after lawmakers raised concerns about the social media company’s links to the Chinese government, the Andolu Agency.

A parliament spokesman said that “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.”

TikTok, the popular short-form video-based social media platform, is owned by ByteDance which is based in China. British MPs were concerned about data being sent to the Chinese government.

A letter by concerned MPs said: “The prospect of Xi Jinping’s government having access to personal data on our children’s phones ought to be a cause for major concern.”

A spokeswoman for TikTok said: “While it is disappointing that Parliament will no longer be able to connect with the millions of people who use TikTok in the UK, we reiterate the offer to reassure those Members of Parliament who raised concerns and clarify any inaccuracies about our platform.”

China kicks off massive military drills around Taiwan

Earlier, The Guardian reported that Britain's House of Commons' Foreign Affairs Committee is planning a visit to Taiwan probably in November or early December this year.

The initial visit plans were intended to show Britain's support for Taiwan, the report said.

In response to this, China’s UK ambassador warned of “severe consequences” if British lawmakers visit Taiwan.

Media report: British lawmakers to visit Taiwan later this year

Zheng Zeguang told the Guardian newspaper: "We call on the UK side to abide by the Sino-UK joint communique and not to underestimate the extreme sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, and not to follow the U.S.'s footsteps.”

Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, candidates for Britain’s next prime minister, have taken a tough line on China in the leadership race.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”