New York City has taken a stance against the popular short video sharing app TikTok, banning its use on government-owned devices. The decision comes amidst a broader concern in the United States about potential security risks associated with TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance. With more than 150 million American users, TikTok has come under scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers who worry about its ties to the Chinese government.
The administration of Mayor Eric Adams stated that TikTok’s presence on government devices posed a security threat to the city’s technical networks. As a result, New York City agencies have been instructed to remove the app from these devices within 30 days. Additionally, employees will lose access to TikTok and its website on city-owned networks. This move follows a similar ban by New York State on state-issued mobile devices.
TikTok, for its part, has consistently denied sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government and has taken measures to protect user privacy and security. However, top U.S. security officials, including FBI Director Christopher Wray and CIA Director William Burns, have expressed concerns about TikTok’s potential threat to national security. Former President Donald Trump attempted to ban new downloads of TikTok in 2020, but legal challenges prevented the ban from taking effect.
The ban on TikTok has not been limited to New York City. Numerous U.S. states and cities have also restricted the use of TikTok on government devices. For instance, Montana recently passed a bill to ban the app across the entire state, with legal challenges currently underway. A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey indicated that nearly half of American adults support a ban on TikTok, underscoring the ongoing debate surrounding the app’s presence and influence.
