According to a CNN analysis, more than half of all US states have partially or completely banned TikTok from government devices, reflecting a recent wave of governors and state agencies cracking down on the short-form video app.
The growing state backlash against TikTok, which has at least 100 million users in the United States, includes both Republican and Democratic states and spans the entire country.
Many states have taken executive action against TikTok, with governors prohibiting the social media platform from government networks and devices. However, some have gone even further, including WeChat and AliPay on their banned apps lists.
A few states are considering legislation to limit TikTok, mirroring similar efforts by US lawmakers at the federal level.
The moves come amid renewed security concerns about TikTok’s US user data, as well as fears that it could end up in the hands of the Chinese government. Late last year, nearly two dozen states announced restrictions in response to reports that a negotiation between TikTok and the US government had stalled over whether the company could continue to offer its services in the US.
TikTok has stated that a potential national security agreement is still being considered, and that it believes a mutual agreement with federal officials is the best way to address security concerns.
“We’re disappointed that so many states are jumping on the bandwagon to enact policies based on unfounded, politically charged falsehoods about TikTok,” a TikTok spokesperson said last month in response to the state actions.
“It’s unfortunate 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,” the spokesperson said.
Access to TikTok from government devices is now restricted in more than half of the United States.
According to a CNN analysis, more than half of all US states have partially or completely banned TikTok from government devices, reflecting a recent wave of governors and state agencies cracking down on the short-form video app.
The growing state backlash against TikTok, which has at least 100 million users in the United States, includes both Republican and Democratic states and spans the entire country.
Many states have taken executive action against TikTok, with governors prohibiting the social media platform from government networks and devices. However, some have gone even further, including WeChat and AliPay on their banned apps lists.
A few states are considering legislation to limit TikTok, mirroring similar efforts by US lawmakers at the federal level.
The moves come amid renewed security concerns about TikTok’s US user data, as well as fears that it could end up in the hands of the Chinese government. Late last year, nearly two dozen states announced restrictions in response to reports that a negotiation between TikTok and the US government had stalled over whether the company could continue to offer its services in the US.
TikTok has stated that a potential national security agreement is still being considered, and that it believes a mutual agreement with federal officials is the best way to address security concerns.
“We’re disappointed that so many states are jumping on the bandwagon to enact policies based on unfounded, politically charged falsehoods about TikTok,” a TikTok spokesperson said last month in response to the state actions.
“It’s unfortunate 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,” the spokesperson said.
