TIKTOK BANNED FROM ALL US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES-MANAGED DEVICES

Wed 28 December 2022:

The Chinese video app TikTok has been blocked from all devices managed by the US House of Representatives, the House’s administration arm announced on Tuesday. The move is similar to another law that is set to take effect soon in the country, which will prohibit the app from being used on any US government device.

The app is considered “high risk due to a number of security issues”, according to a message sent to all lawmakers and staff. He also requested that it be removed from all devices managed by the House.

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Several states have already imposed a ban on the use of ByteDance-owned app on state devices and networks citing security reasons and the fear that China might be able to monitor Americans and access their data. As of last week, 19 states have at least partially blocked the app.

Just last week, the proposal to bar federal government employees from using the popular video app on government-owned devices was added to the $1.66 trillion spending bill passed to fund the US government through to September 30, 2023.

As per the requirements of the bill, the White House Office of Management and Budget has 60 days “to develop standards and guidelines for executive agencies requiring the removal” of TikTok from federal devices. It will take effect once President Joe Biden signs the legislation into law.

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“With the passage of the Omnibus that banned TikTok on executive branch devices, the CAO worked with the Committee on House Administration to implement a similar policy for the House,” a spokesperson for the Chief Administrative Officer told Reuters on Tuesday.

The message to employees stated that anyone who had TikTok on their device would be contacted about removing it, and that future downloads of the app were prohibited. TikTok has not yet responded to the situation.

US lawmakers have also proposed a nationwide ban on the app, similar to what other countries, such as India, have done.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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