San Francisco: New York City has banned the popular Chinese short-form video-sharing app TikTok on city-owned devices citing security concerns, joining other US cities and states that have put such restrictions on the platform.
A directive was issued on Wednesday following a review by the NYC Cyber Command, which, according to a city official, determined that TikTok “posed a security threat to the city’s technical networks", reports The Verge.
As of now, city employees are not permitted to download or use the app or access the TikTok website from any city-owned 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,” a New York City Hall spokesperson was quoted as saying.
“NYC Cyber Command regularly explores and advances proactive measures to keep New Yorkers’ data safe.” the spokesperson added.
The city cited federal legislation that outlawed TikTok earlier this year as well as US Office of Management and Budget guidelines that discourage the app's use on government-owned devices.
TikTok is used by more than 150 million Americans and is owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance. US Congress has been trying for more than three years to push through legislation to ban TikTok nationwide, over concerns about possible Chinese government influence.
"A number of US states have banned TikTok on government-owned devices, but governors have recently tried to go even further," the report said.
In May, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte had signed a bill banning the short-form video platform, making it the first US state to ban the popular app.
Shortly after the bill became law, users of TikTok and the company itself filed a lawsuit against the state, claiming that it violated the free speech rights of Montana citizens.
New York City agencies are required to remove the app within 30 days and employees will lose access to the app and its website on city-owned devices and networks. New York State had already banned TikTok on state-issued mobile devices, reports The Indian Express.
TikTok said it “has not shared, and would not share, US user data with the Chinese government, and has taken substantial measures to protect the privacy and security of TikTok users.”
With inputs from agencies