U.S. lawmakers to include ban on TikTok on government devices
The Hindu
Some 19 of the 50 U.S. states have now at least partially blocked access on government computers to TikTok
U.S. lawmakers will include a proposal to bar federal government employees from using Chinese app TikTok on government-owned devices in a key spending bill, sources told Reuters on Monday.
(For insights on emerging themes at the intersection of technology, business and policy, subscribe to our tech newsletter Today’s Cache.)
The Senate last week voted on a bill sponsored by Republican Senator Josh Hawley to bar federal employees from using the ByteDance-owned short video app on government-owned devices. It was the latest action by U.S. lawmakers to crack down on Chinese companies amid national security fears.
The ban is set to be included in a massive omnibus measure to fund U.S. government operations that is expected to be voted on this week, the sources said.
The proposal last week won the backing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.
TikTok has said the concerns are largely fueled by misinformation. The legislation would not impact the more than 100 million Americans who use TikTok on private or company-owned devices.
Many federal agencies, including the White House and the Defense, Homeland Security and State departments, already ban TikTok from government-owned devices.