New York: City bans TikTok on government devices – 8/16/2023 – Tech

New York City banned the use of TikTok on government-owned devices on Wednesday over security concerns, joining several U.S. cities and states that have imposed similar restrictions on the short-form video app.

Owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance and used by more than 150 million Americans, TikTok has faced growing calls from US lawmakers for a nationwide ban, prompted by concerns about possible influence from the Chinese government.

TikTok “represents a threat to the security of the city’s technical networks,” the New York City government, led by Mayor Eric Adams, said in a statement.

New York City agencies have 30 days to remove TikTok, and employees will lose access to the app and website on city-owned devices and networks. The state of New York has previously banned TikTok on state-provided mobile devices.

TikTok stated that it “has not and would not share US user data with the Chinese government and has taken substantial steps to protect the privacy and security of TikTok users.”

Many US states and cities have restricted the use of TikTok on government devices. Montana recently passed legislation banning the app across the state, a rule that will take effect Jan. 1 and is being legally challenged.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday showed that nearly half of American adults support a ban on TikTok.