After ordering state agency officials to bar employees from downloading or using TikTok on state-issued devices, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday announced a plan for a statewide TikTok ban.
Developed by the state’s Department of Public Safety and the Department of Information Resources, the “Model Security Plan for Prohibited Technologies” aims to address the security risks posed by TikTok and other software on both government-issued and personal devices of state employees.
TikTok, owned by Beijing-based Bytedance, has long been accused of secretly harvesting user data.
In December 2022, the company admitted to spying on multiple reporters in an effort to track down sources of leaked information.
However, the social video platform denies spying for the Chinese government. It has also refuted several other accusations, including that it is tracking the locations of certain U.S. users, running illegal operations in Taiwan and pushing Chinese propaganda to shift public sentiment in the U.S.
Announcing today a statewide plan to ban TikTok.
Texans, especially our state agencies and employees, must be protected from having sensitive information shared with the Chinese Communist Party.
We cannot ignore this security threat.
More: https://t.co/CZJb0NlWCv
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 6, 2023
Abbott previously directed state agency officials to immediately ban employees from downloading or using TikTok on government-issued devices.
The new plan expands to restrict employees or contractors from conducting state business on personal devices with TikTok or other prohibited software, including WeChat, Alipay and QQ Wallet.
The model also seeks the implementation of network-based restrictions to prevent the use of prohibited technologies on any device. Additionally, it aims to identify sensitive locations, meetings or personnel that could be exposed to devices with prohibited software.
Abbott said in a news release:
The security risks associated with…
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