New York City has taken a decisive step by banning the popular short video-sharing app TikTok on government-owned devices, joining a growing list of US cities with similar concerns. This move comes as a response to security worries linked to the app’s ownership and data privacy issues.
The administration of Mayor Eric Adams issued an official statement highlighting that TikTok posed a significant security threat to the city’s technical networks. As a result, government agencies have been instructed to remove the application from their devices within the next 30 days. Employees will consequently lose access to both the app and its website on devices and networks owned by the city. It’s noteworthy that TikTok had already been prohibited on state-issued mobile devices.
TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, boasts a user base of over 150 million Americans. The app has been under scrutiny due to concerns about potential Chinese government influence, prompting calls for a nationwide ban from US lawmakers.
In response to these concerns, TikTok has consistently asserted its commitment to safeguarding user privacy. The company has explicitly stated that it neither shares nor intends to share US user data with the Chinese government. Additionally, TikTok emphasized its extensive efforts to enhance the security and privacy of its users’ data.
The New York City ban echoes a similar move by Montana lawmakers, who passed a bill in April seeking to prohibit TikTok’s operation within the state’s borders. This legislative trend highlights the growing unease about the app’s operations in the US.
Amidst ongoing debates about TikTok’s security, the company is actively working on Project Texas. This initiative aims to establish a separate entity responsible for storing American user data on servers operated by US technology company Oracle. TikTok continues to assert its commitment to protecting user data from unauthorized access.
While TikTok maintains its position that it has not shared data with the Chinese government and will not do so upon request, the discussions about its operations and potential security risks persist within the US regulatory landscape.
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