The decision to ban the app on government-issued phones is due to security worries.
It’s well-known that the US government has concerns about TikTok, a popular social media platform with roots in China. While efforts to completely ban the app in the US have faltered due to insufficient evidence, the government can still restrict its usage on phones provided to its employees.
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An internal memo from the US House of Representatives states that TikTok is banned on all House-managed smartphones due to security issues. Anyone found with the app on their House phone will be required to uninstall it immediately. Various state governments have also prohibited the app on government devices, and a forthcoming omnibus bill will likely extend this ban to federal government employees’ phones.
NEW: The U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on House Administration, has authorized the removal of TikTok from all House devices.
Citing numerous risks, the House’s Chief Administrative Officer issued a notice banning the app from House mobile devices effective immediately pic.twitter.com/AC3ou9F0Zj
— Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) December 28, 2022
Although there is no solid proof of security breaches by the Chinese government through TikTok, federal investigators are concerned about potential risks if China exerts direct influence on ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. ByteDance is currently in talks with the US government to ensure the app’s continued operation in the country.
