New York City has banned the use of TikTok o government devices making it the most recent government to do so as a precaution against potential Chinese security threats.
According to a new ban announced by The Verge, which is effective immediately, agencies must remove the software from city-owned gear within 30 days. Following a security evaluation, the prohibition was suggested by NYC Cyber Command, which focuses on cyber risks for the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation.
In 2020, the state of New York similarly enacted a ban on TikTok use on government devices. In subsequent years, numerous other states, including New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and Georgia, have enacted their own restrictions.
A law banning TikTok in Montana was signed by Governor Greg Gianforte in May, and it will go into force in 2024. Contrary to earlier state-level measures, the restriction would also affect the popular app’s accessibility to non-government-issued smartphones.
In response, TikTok filed a lawsuit to defend the app’s continued accessibility to Montanans. This month, the tech industry’s NetChoice and Chamber of Progress supported TikTok’s lawsuit to overturn the ban, claiming that “Montana’s effort to cut Montanans off from the global network of TikTok users ignores and undermines the structure, design, and purpose of the internet.”
The prohibitions in the US and other countries mention general security worries about ByteDance, the Chinese parent firm of TikTok.
Although there hasn’t been any proof to date, Beijing might still threaten to use the hugely popular social platform for spying.
