The University of Texas at Austin (USA) has banned the use of TikTok on the university’s network after the US government expressed concern about cybersecurity and the large amount of user data it collects.
According to Bloomberg, the University of Texas at Austin said on January 17 that it has permanently blocked access to TikTok on the school’s internet system, banning devices from using the app on wired or Wi-Fi networks on campus.
The announcement follows a directive from Texas Governor Greg Abbott last month when he ordered all state agencies to ban officials and employees from downloading or using TikTok on government-issued devices. It is known that at least 25 other US states have taken similar action, citing national security concerns around the use of TikTok, which is owned by Chinese technology company ByteDance.
TikTok is extremely popular among college students and teenagers. However, the app is facing close scrutiny from US federal and local officials. They are concerned about TikTok’s ownership and Beijing’s ability to access US user data. Officials including US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and FBI Director Chris Wray have all questioned whether TikTok could pose a national security threat.
The University of Oklahoma last month announced it would ban access to TikTok on the university’s internet system after Governor Kevin Stitt issued an executive order banning access to the app on government networks and devices. Auburn University in Alabama has blocked TikTok following a similar directive from the state’s governor. Boise State University in Idaho, by order of Governor Brad Little, also banned access to TikTok on campus networks, saying that students who wish to access TikTok can do so using a mobile data plan. their own.