New York Bans TikTok on Government-Owned Devices

New York City has taken a significant step by announcing the prohibition of the TikTok app on government-owned smartphones.

This decision is part of a growing trend among various US states and municipalities, all of which are enacting bans on the use of the popular video-sharing application on public employees' devices, citing serious security concerns.

A spokesperson for the city council released a statement on Wednesday, revealing that TikTok must be uninstalled from city-owned electronic devices within the next 30 days.

This decision comes after a thorough review by New York's cyber leadership, who have identified the app as a potential threat to the city's technological infrastructure.

US officials have voiced apprehension over TikTok's ownership by ByteDance, a technology company based in Beijing.

There are concerns that this ownership might lead to the inappropriate collection of data or unwarranted pressures from China.

On the other hand, TikTok insists that it does not share information with its parent company or the Chinese government.

The establishment of TikTok's new corporate structure in the United States is aimed at allaying these fears. Nonetheless, more than 35 US states have already restricted government-owned devices' access to the application.

New York State has previously prohibited the use of TikTok on government-owned devices unless it is for legitimate government-related purposes.

Meanwhile, Montana has taken a more stringent approach, deciding to ban TikTok's use across the entire state starting next year. A group of TikTok users has challenged this decision in a court of law.