Republican governors in , , and severely restricted the popular app TikTok from state electronic devices. That includes equipment like phones, laptops and tablets, and most states also prohibit the use of the app on state-run networks. The ban is a response to 鈥渃ybersecurity concerns鈥� due to TikTok鈥檚 Chinese ownership.
TikTok has tens of millions of users in the U.S. and monthly active users globally last year. The Chinese company ByteDance owns the app, and the that it has 鈥渁 number of concerns鈥� about TikTok鈥檚 popularity.
In a in mid-December, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he鈥檚 worried the Chinese government could have access to user data the app stores.
鈥淚t's problematic for national security. It's deeply problematic for personal security. And of course, state security,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e cannot in good faith allow that app on state devices knowing that there is direct access to any data that may be stored there or inputted there.鈥�
This move by states mirror efforts at the federal level. The U.S. a bill that would ban federal employees from using TikTok on government-owned devices. Several agencies, including the and , already ban the app. have restrictions in place.
Cox said in addition to security concerns, the app is causing harm to young people.
鈥淣ot just the amount of time that you get kind of trapped on there, of course, but even worse than that,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen it comes to self harm videos, addiction videos, that can lead a person into a very dark and dangerous place.鈥�
TikTok enhanced efforts to secure user data in the U.S. this month, but the company that non-U.S. employees have access to information on American users. Still, the company are 鈥渓argely fueled by misinformation.鈥�
Note 12/20: An earlier version of this article inaccurately stated that "all" state devices are banned in Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. There are a few exceptions to this rule, and the copy has been edited to reflect that.
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