Another group of states took action against TikTok after concerns that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), was using the app for spying on Americans.
Rasmussen Reports recently released a poll showing that Americans are worried that the CCP could use it to “collect sensitive information from U.S. Government employees and create profiles on millions of Americans for blackmail and espionage.” Most Americans support congressional action in this matter.
Individual state leaders are also taking steps. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R – AL) took action this week to ban the app from state devices as well as its network.
Ivey stated in a statement that “Protecting Alabama’s citizens’ privacy and the state of Alabama is a must” and added, “I certainly don’t take a security risk from China lightly.”
She continued, “After discussing this with our OIT secretary we came to the obvious decision to ban the TikTok App from our state devices and network.”
She said, “Look, TikTok is not my friend, but the evidence supports it, and I want to ensure that we as a nation are doing all we can to protect ourselves from this increasing security risk.”
On Tuesday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (Republican-IA) made a similar move, ordering the Iowa Department of Management’s Office of the Chief Information Officer ban the Chinese-owned app on all government devices.
Reynolds stated, “It is obvious that TikTok presents a national security threat to our country and that I refuse to subject citizens of Iowa to such a risk.”
“They trust us with their confidential and personal information, and we will do everything possible to protect it from the Chinese government.” She said that the safety of Iowans is my top priority, which includes cybersecurity.
North Dakota Governor. Doug Burgum (R), followed the lead and banned TikTok in executive branch agencies.
The governor stated that protecting citizens’ data was our top priority. He said that IT professionals determined that TikTok raises many red flags regarding the amount of data it collects, as well as how that data might be used by the Chinese government.
He said, “Reducing security risk is the right decision. We would offer NDIT’s support to assist any partner entities who wish to pursue similar actions.”
Others have also taken similar steps. Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem (R), signed an executive order last week over the same national security concerns.
She stated:
South Dakota will not participate in intelligence gathering operations by nations that hate us. The Chinese Communist Party uses TikTok information to manipulate American citizens. They also collect data from devices that have access to the platform.
The order goes into effect immediately and will apply to all employees and agencies of South Dakota. It also applies to entities and persons who contract with the state and commissions. The order prohibits the downloading and use of the TikTok app or the visit to the website from state-owned or state leased electronic devices that are capable of internet connectivity.
South Carolina, Texas and Maryland governors have taken similar actions against the Chinese-owned app, while Republicans are pushing for a similar ban on the federal government.
