TikTok has come under increasing scrutiny due to fears that user data from the app owned by Beijing-based company ByteDance could be used to undermine Western security interests.

"Restricting the use of TikTok on government devices is a prudent and proportionate step following advice from our cyber security experts," Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said in a statement.

The United States, Canada, Belgium and the European Commission have already banned the app from official devices.

TikTok said it was disappointed with the decision and had already begun taking steps to further protect European user data.

China said the decision was based on political considerations rather than facts.