Texas Governor Greg Abbott banned TikTok from being downloaded and used on state-provided cell phones and computers. The governor announced that the app is banned from all government-owned devices for "collecting vast amounts of data" from users.
In a statement, Abbott acknowledged that the social network says its data is stored in the U.S., but expressed distrust that the Chinese government could use the information to surveil U.S. citizens:
TikTok collects vast amounts of data from its users' devices, including when, where and how they conduct Internet activities, and offers this trove of potentially sensitive information to the Chinese government.
Today, I ordered all Texas state agencies to ban TikTok on government-issued devices as the Chinese Communist Party poses a growing threat to U.S. cybersecurity.
The State of Texas will continue working to preserve the safety and security of all Texans. https://t.co/ZXP9atgu7N pic.twitter.com/5N3OYFBBnp
- Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) December 7, 2022
The ban only applies to state devices
The ban only applies to state-owned devices and, therefore, employees will not be able to download it. It affects cell phones, laptops, tablets, desktop computers and other devices that can connect to the internet.
The governor also directed the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Information Resources to develop a plan to address the use of TikTok on government employees' personal devices with a deadline of February 15, 2023. Likewise, he said that they will review the state legislation in order to make some changes in cybersecurity matters.
TikTok is a national security threat & a threat to the cybersecurity of every Texan.
This session, we must pass comprehensive legislation to make my TikTok ban permanent.
Together, we can stop China's efforts to collect, store, & distribute Texans' data. pic.twitter.com/q4cVCFIlhr
- Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 9, 2022
Abbott left some wiggle room in the ban by allowing state agency leaders to use it for police investigations and "other legitimate uses."
Abbott joins other Republican governors
Abbott is the latest Republican governor to single out social networks due to fear that the Chinese government will use the app to divert U.S. user information. The governors from South Dakota, South Carolina and Maryland also banned the app on employee’s government issued devices. Wisconsin Republicans called on their Democratic governor to do the same.
Last week, FBI Director Chris Wray expressed concern that China was using the app's recommendation algorithm to manipulate the content users see. He warned that the Chinese government does not share U.S. values and said "that should concern us."
