Move FM Global News

WASHINGTON D.C.: Due to national security concerns, Alabama and Utah became the latest US states to ban the use of Chinese-owned short-video sharing app TikTok on state government devices and computer networks.

Last month, FBI Director Chris Wray said the Chinese government could use the app to collect data from millions of US users.

“Disturbingly, TikTok harvests vast amounts of data, much of which has no legitimate connection to the app’s supposed purpose of video sharing. Use of TikTok involving state IT infrastructure, thus creates an unacceptable vulnerability to Chinese infiltration operations,” said Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.

Her directive also orders executive branch agencies to take steps to prevent TikTok from accessing sensitive state data.

In response, TikTok said, “We are disappointed that so many states are jumping on the bandwagon to enact policies based on unfounded, politically charged falsehoods about TikTok.”

Meanwhile, Federal Communications Commissioner Brendan Carr tweeted that at least nine states have taken action on TikTok, “based on the serious security threats it presents.”

Other US states, including Texas, Maryland and South Dakota, have also banned TikTok on state devices, while Indiana has sued the app, alleging that it is deceiving users about China’s access to their data and is exposing children to mature content.

In 2020, former President Donald Trump attempted to prevent the WeChat and TikTok apps from being downloaded by new US users, but lost a series of court battles.

In June 2021, President Joe Biden withdrew Trump’s related executive orders and directed the Commerce Department to conduct a review of security concerns posed by the apps.