TikTok is banned from federal government devices
The White House is giving all federal agencies 30 days to wipe TikTok from all government devices as the Chinese social media app comes under increasing scrutiny in Washington over security concerns.
The Office of Management and Budget called the guidance released Monday a “critical step forward in addressing the risks the app poses to sensitive government data.” Some agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of State, have already implemented restrictions; The guidelines call on the rest of the federal government to follow suit within 30 days.
The White House already doesn’t allow TikTok on their devices.
“The Biden-Harris administration has invested heavily in defending our nation’s digital infrastructure and limiting access by foreign adversaries to Americans’ data,” said Chris DeRusha, the federal information security officer. “These guidelines are part of the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment to securing our digital infrastructure and protecting the security and privacy of the American people.”
The guidelines were first reported by Reuters.
Congress passed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act in December as part of a comprehensive government funding package. Legislation allows the use of TikTok in certain cases, including for national security, law enforcement, and research purposes.
TikTok, owned by ByteDance Ltd, remains hugely popular, used by two-thirds of US teens. However, there are growing concerns that Beijing could gain control of American user data obtained by the app.
The company has rejected the ban on federal equipment, saying it is developing security and privacy plans as part of the Biden administration’s ongoing national security review.
Canada also announced Monday that it will ban TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices. The European Union executive said last week it had temporarily banned TikTok from phones used by employees as a cybersecurity measure.
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