Access To TikTok from Government Devices Now Restricted in More Than Half of US states
In response to a surge of recent clampdowns by governors and state agencies targeting the short-form video app, analysis shows that more than half of all US states have partially or completely banned TikTok from government devices.
States are increasingly taking action against TikTok, which has at least 100 million users in the US, and it affects both Republican and Democratic states as well as all geographical areas of the country.
TikTok has been singled out by many states for executive action, with governors banning the social media site from use on government networks and devices. However, others have gone farther and included WeChat and AliPay, as well as other apps with ties to China, to their lists of banned apps.
A few states are considering legislation to limit TikTok, reflecting similar moves made by US lawmakers at the federal level.
The actions come amid heightened security worries about the US user data for the app and worries that it might end up in the hands of the Chinese authorities. In response to news that talks between TikTok and the US government over whether the company could continue providing its services in the country had stagnated, nearly two dozen states issued limitations in the latter part of last year.
TikTok has stated that it is still reviewing a potential national security agreement and that it thinks the best approach to address the security issues is through a consensual agreement with federal officials.
A spokesperson for TikTok commented on the state measures last month, saying, “We’re disappointed that so many states are jumping on the bandwagon to enact policies based on unfounded, politically charged falsehoods about TikTok”.
“It’s unfortunate,” the spokesperson said, “that the many state agencies, offices, and universities on TikTok in those states will no longer be able to use it to build communities and connect with constituents.”
Author-Roberta Appiah
