VIRGINIA, USA — Virginia has become the latest state to ban TikTok and other apps from state devices and state-run wireless networks.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin made the announcement in a press release Friday.
The executive order bans TikTok and WeChat, among other applications developed by ByteDance Limited or Tencent Holdings Limited from government devices and Wi-Fi networks. The order also requires businesses who contract with the state government to also ban the use of the apps on state-owned devices or IT infrastructure.
“TikTok and WeChat data are a channel to the Chinese Communist Party, and their continued presence represents a threat to national security, the intelligence community, and the personal privacy of every single American,” Youngkin said. “We are taking this step today to secure state government devices and wireless networks from the threat of infiltration and ensure that we safeguard the data and cybersecurity of state government.”
The executive order, which applies to all executive offices and executive branch agencies, comes 10 days after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued a similar directive. Other states that have issued bans include Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Utah.
“Not only does TikTok pose a threat to national security and consumer privacy, but studies have shown that it negatively impacts the mental health of our youth,” said Attorney General Jason Miyares. “In March, I joined a bipartisan coalition of 43 other attorneys general to investigate TikTok’s physical and mental impact on children. As this investigation continues, I am glad that Governor Youngkin is addressing the serious security risks TikTok poses for the Commonwealth.”
The U.S. Senate passed a bill in 2020 to ban TikTok, but it never passed the House. Other bills to regulate or ban TikTok and other apps are also pending in Congress. The U.S. armed forces have prohibited the app on military devices.
Critics say they fear the Chinese government is gaining access to critical information through the application and could be using it to spread misinformation or propaganda.