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New York City bans TikTok on government devices

New York City Wednesday ordered the Chinese-owned TikTok app removed from all government devices. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 3 | New York City Wednesday ordered the Chinese-owned TikTok app removed from all government devices. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Aug. 17 (UPI) -- New York City banned TikTok on city-owned devices finding the app poses a security threat to the city's technical networks.

The directive issued Wednesday orders all city employees using city devices to delete TikTok from city-owned devices within 30 days and banned downloading or using the app or accessing TikTok's website from any city-owned devices.

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"NYC Cyber Command determined that the TikTok application posed a security threat to the city's technical networks and directed its removal from city-owned devices," a City Hall spokesperson told NBC New York.

A city spokesperson also told The Verge that NYC Cyber Command "regularly explores and advances proactive measures to keep New Yorkers' data safe," citing U.S. Office of Management and Budget guidelines discouraging the use of TikTok on government devices.

"While social media is great at connecting New Yorkers with one another and the city, we have to ensure we are always using these platforms in a secure manner," the spokesperson said.

New York state banned the app on government devices in 2020.

The Biden administration in February issued a similar directive, ordering the app to be removed from all government devices.

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In March, TikTok acknowledged that the Biden administration's Treasury Department Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States is demanding the Chinese-owned company sell to a new owner or face a ban in the United States.

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and House members in June introduced legislation to stop employees of foreign corporations like TikTok from accessing U.S. data from abroad.

The European Parliament also urged all 28 member nations to ban TikTok in June, citing the possibility of "foreign interference, disinformation, and attacks on democracy."

Montana became the first U.S. state to ban TikTok, making it illegal for the app to operate even on personal devices in May, but faces a lawsuit from the app owner.

TikTok's suit against Montana claims the ban is unconstitutional because it allegedly violates free speech.

Britain banned TikTok on government devices in March noting that the app "requires users to give permission for the app to access data stored on the device, which is then collected and stored by the company."

Canada decided in February to ban the app on government devices, deciding that it poses a privacy and security risk.

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