UW System bans TikTok on devices due to security, privacy concerns.
The University of Wisconsin System has decided to ban the use of TikTok on system devices. This follows the governor’s recent executive order banning the use of the popular social media app on state phones and other devices due to potential risks to privacy, safety and security. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020. Critics have expressed concern that the Chinese government could access user data, such as browsing history and location.
The UW System employs 40,000 faculty and staff, and UW-Madison has multiple TikTok accounts. Universities often use TikTok accounts as a recruiting tool to connect with high school students. A number of other universities across the country have also banned TikTok in recent weeks due to concerns about user data and the potential for pro-China narratives or misinformation.
TikTok has become the second-most popular domain in the world and is consumed by two-thirds of American teens. This has led to bipartisan concern in Washington that Beijing would use legal and regulatory power to seize American user data. To protect against this, the U.S. armed forces have also prohibited the app on military devices.
The University of Wisconsin System’s decision to ban TikTok follows similar moves by other universities across the country. This is due to concerns about user data and potential pro-China narratives or misinformation. The U.S. armed forces have also prohibited the app on military devices. The UW System’s decision is an effort to protect the safety and security of its users.
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