New York City has implemented a ban on TikTok for government-owned devices, citing security concerns. This move aligns with previous bans on the app at the federal level and in certain states. The main concern revolves around TikTok’s ownership by China-based company ByteDance, with policymakers worried about potential access to U.S. user data by the Chinese government.
A spokesperson from NYC City Hall stated that the ban was the result of the Cyber Command’s evaluation, which concluded that TikTok posed a security threat to the city’s technical networks. City agencies now have 30 days to remove the app from government devices.
Despite these bans, there has been limited action taken against TikTok beyond government-owned devices. Momentum for stricter regulations on the app has declined in favor of other issues, even after TikTok presented a security plan to the U.S. government. This plan, however, has not alleviated policymakers’ concerns.
TikTok declined to comment on the NYC ban.
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