Following the government's move to ban TikTok in several states, some universities decided to follow the suit. Several academic institutions now restrict the social media app on computers and Wi-Fi networks on campus.
According to CNET, the move is made out of concern that the social media app reports user data to the Chinese government.
While students can still access TikTok on their personal devices using their own data, they will no longer be able to access the app on campus.
Universities' Decision to Ban TikTok is Based on State Mandates
The University of Oklahoma and Auburn University in Alabama both announced that they will be blocking the app on their computers and internet networks, as per Gizmodo. Twenty-six other public universities and colleges in Georgia are also doing the same.
The decision of the universities to ban the social media app seemingly or explicitly comes from state mandates of keeping the app off state-owned devices.
In an email sent to employees and students earlier this week, the University of Oklahoma wrote that they are banning TikTok on their computers and internet networks in compliance with the Governor's Executive Order 2022-33.
The order to ban the social media app in the university is effective immediately according to the email.
Relative to the announcement, the university also said that it will require all TikTok accounts administered by the university to be deleted. In place of it, employees and students are advised to use alternate social media platforms.
According to CNET, aside from the University of Oklahoma, at least three other universities and colleges in the said state have followed suit.
In addition to his executive order, the Oklahoma governor said in a statement that keeping the cybersecurity of state government is necessary to continue to serve and protect the state's citizens.
Moreover, he said that they will not render any participation in helping the Chinese Communist Party gain access to information about the government.
Read Also: FCC Commissioner Asks US Government to Ban TikTok in the Country
Congress Moves to Ban TikTok in Government Devices
Meanwhile, in Georgia, 26 public universities and colleges are now reportedly being required to ban TikTok on their campuses.
This is amid the movement of several states to ban the said social media app on government-issued devices.
In recent weeks, more than a dozen states, including Maryland, South Dakota, and Texas, have announced the ban of the app for state employees using government-issued devices.
In the US Congress, a growing number of lawmakers keep on scrutinizing TikTok over its possible impact on national security because of its ties to China through its parent company, ByteDance.
In fact, under a spending bill that Congress unveiled early Tuesday, the social media app would be banned from most US government devices.
If approved to be a law, having a TikTok account on a device issued by the US government will be considered illegal in the country.
According to TikTok spokesperson Brooke Oberwetter, the bans are just a "political gesture." He said it is unnecessary because TikTok is already working on its own data security in the US.
Oberwetter also said that they are disappointed that Congress is pushing to ban TikTok on government devices.
Related Article: Congress Pushes to Ban TikTok from US Government Devices
