US federal agencies now have 30 days to remove the app from all devices and systems.
(Photo: Reuters)
Washington The White House is giving US federal agencies 30 days to remove TikTok from all devices and systems. This was announced by Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget, in a guide to the authorities on Monday. Contract partners, for example for IT maintenance, are also not allowed to use the app. The Reuters news agency first reported on the White House decision.
More than 100 million Americans are registered with TikTok, they are not affected by the ban. According to the Washington Post, TikTok is used by two-thirds of American teenagers.
In December, the US Congress banned federal employees from using TikTok on their work devices. Many government agencies, including the White House, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and State Department, had banned TikTok for some time. About half of the US states have issued a TikTok ban for their administrations.
Neighboring Canada also announced on Monday a ban on TikTok for government employees, the Canadian government spoke of an “unacceptable” risk to data protection and security. Last week, the EU Commission banned its employees from using company phones.
TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company headquartered in Singapore. Critics suspect that the Chinese government can access user data such as browsing history and locations. The company denies the allegations.
In Washington, both US parties are concerned that the Chinese government could seize data or spread misinformation. On Tuesday, the foreign affairs committee in the US House of Representatives will vote on a bill that provides for a far-reaching TikTok ban.
“My proposal empowers the government to ban TikTok and other applications that threaten US national security,” said Chairman Mike McCaul, a Republican. “Anyone who has downloaded TikTok is giving their personal information to the Chinese Communist Party. TikTok is a spy balloon in the phone.”
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