The University of Texas at Austin has banned students from using Chinese-owned TikTok on its Wi-Fi network, in line with Gov. Greg Abbott’s December 2022 directive that all state agencies eliminate the cybersecurity risks posed by the video-sharing app.
“The federal government recognizes the video-sharing mobile application as a national security threat,” the email reads. “Several federal agencies and states have already prohibited its use on their government networks and government-issued devices.
“Recently, UT Austin began the process of removing TikTok from all government-issued devices, including university-issued cell phones, laptops, tablets, and desktop computers. Today, the university blocked TikTok access on our networks. You are no longer able to access TikTok on any device if you are connected to the university via its wired or WIFI networks.”
Officials Say TikTok Poses Growing Threat
The message then pointed to Abbott’s Dec. 7 directive, which states that there’s a growing threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) trying to infiltrate the United States across multiple fronts.“While the federal government holds the ultimate responsibility for foreign policy issues, the State also has the responsibility and opportunity to protect itself,” the order reads.
Abbott’s directive also ordered all state agencies to ban employees from downloading or using the app on government-issued devices, including cellphones, laptops, desktops, and other devices capable of internet connectivity, although exceptions are made for law enforcement agencies.
The Republican also directed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Information Resources to develop a plan that other state agencies can deploy to address “vulnerabilities presented by the use of TikTok on personal devices.”
TikTok has more than 85 million users in the United States.
According to Abbott and a string of other officials, the app harvests vast amounts of data from its users’ devices, including “when, where, and how they conduct internet activity,” and could provide a trove of potentially sensitive information to the CCP.
TikTok Disappointed by Texas University Decision
TikTok claims that it stores U.S. user data on servers outside of China.“We’re especially sorry to see the unintended consequences of these rushed policies beginning to impact universities’ ability to share information, recruit students, and build communities around athletic teams, student groups, campus publications, and more,” the spokesperson said.
The University of Texas is the latest school to ban the use of the social media app, including Auburn University in Alabama, the University of Oklahoma, and Boise State University in Idaho.
In December 2022, President Joe Biden signed legislation banning federal employees from using TikTok on government devices over national security concerns, although exceptions are in place for law enforcement personnel.
Representatives for TikTok didn’t respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.