New York City banned TikTok on government-owned smartphones earlier this week, citing security concerns, following several other cities and states in restricting the short video-sharing software.
TikTok, used by over 150 million Americans and owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance, has received increasing calls from U.S. lawmakers for a statewide ban because of worries about Chinese government involvement. TikTok “posed a security threat to the city’s technical networks,” stated New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ office.
New York City’s action follows in the footsteps of other governments worldwide that have taken similar steps. Due to security concerns, some countries have banned or considered banning TikTok.
Digital Safety First: New York City Government Bars TikTok Access
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Employees will only gain access to the app and its website on city-owned devices and networks if the app is removed within 30 days. TikTok was already prohibited on state-issued mobile devices in New York.
TikTok stated that it “has not shared, and will not share, U.S. user data with the Chinese government, and has taken substantial measures to protect TikTok users’ privacy and security.”
Top U.S. security officials, including FBI Director Christopher Wray and CIA Director William Burns, have identified TikTok as a concern.
In March, Wray stated that China’s government might use TikTok to influence software on millions of devices and create narratives that divide Americans, adding that the app “screams” of national security issues.
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Former President Donald Trump attempted to prohibit new TikTok downloads in 2020, but several judicial decisions thwarted the ban.
Many states and localities in the United States have banned TikTok from government equipment. Montana recently enacted legislation prohibiting the app from being used throughout the state, a measure that is slated to take effect on January 1 and is being legally challenged.
According to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday, over half of Americans support a ban on TikTok.
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As the debate over data privacy, cybersecurity, and the regulation of digital platforms continues, New York City’s decision to prohibit TikTok from government-owned devices is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to strike a delicate balance between technological innovation and national security.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn