“China is not only pushing for parity with Western countries, it is aiming for global technological supremacy,” Cameron told an annual government cybersecurity conference in Belfast. “Bluntly, we cannot afford not to keep pace with China. Otherwise, we risk China becoming the predominant power in cyberspace.”
China is also using its cyber capabilities to acquire intellectual property, achieve its strategic geopolitical goals, and conduct global spying campaigns, Cameron added.
Last month, Britain banned the use of TikTok on government phones, following other Western countries in barring the Chinese-owned video app over security concerns.
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.
Last month, TikTok’s chief executive Shou Zi Chew faced tough questions from lawmakers who are convinced the Chinese-owned short video app should be barred for being a potential national security threat to the United States.
TikTok, which has more than 150 million Americans users, has faced sharp accusations that its US user data would be shared with the Chinese government and that it fails to adequately protect children from harm.
TikTok has said it has spent more than $1.5 billion on what it calls rigorous data security efforts under the name “Project Texas” that currently has nearly 1,500 full-time employees and is contracted with Oracle to store TikTok’s US user data. It also says it rigorously screens content that could harm children.
The United States, Canada, Belgium and the European Commission have also banned the app from official devices.
China has characterised the bans as politically motivated. Beijing routinely denies any involvement in hacking and says it punishes those who do.
