January 1, Texas Governor Announces Plan for Statewide TikTok Ban

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY…
1936: The first-ever NFL Draft; Jay Berwanger from University of Chicago first pick by Philadelphia Eagles.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced a statewide plan to ban the use of TikTok on government-issued devices, in an effort to crack down on security concerns with the popular app.

“The security risks associated with the use of TikTok on devices used to conduct the important business of our state must not be underestimated or ignored,” Abbott said in a statement.

“Owned by a Chinese company that employs Chinese Communist Party members, TikTok harvests significant amounts of data from a user’s device, including details about a user’s internet activity,” he added.

Abbott’s plan would prevent TikTok from being downloaded or used on all state-issued cell phones, laptops, tablets, desktop computers, and other devices that can connect to the internet.

“It is critical that state agencies and employees are protected from the vulnerabilities presented by the use of this app and other prohibited technologies as they work on behalf of their fellow Texans,” Abbott said.

Each state agency has until Feb. 15, 2023 to implement policies to enforce the ban.

Abbott joins several other GOP governors that have banned TikTok from government devices — including the governors of Ohio, South Dakota, and Maryland.

A similar ban has been implemented at the federal level. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced a bill to ban TikTok on federal employees’ government-issued devices. The bill was tacked onto a government funding package at the end of 2022, and signed into law by President Joe Biden.

A TikTok spokesperson addressed the bans in a statement.

“We’re sorry to see the unintended consequences of these rushed TikTok bans—policies that will do nothing to advance cybersecurity—beginning to impact universities’ ability to share information, recruit students, and build communities around athletic teams, student groups, campus publications, and more,” the spokesperson told The Hill.

Source: The Hill | Office of the Texas Governor