Federal agencies have 30 days to remove TikTok from government devices and systems, as well as block all internet traffic from the Chinese-owned company, according to an Office of Management and Budget guidance memorandum first reported by Reuters.OMB Director Shalanda Young explained in the memo the effort is designed to protect U.S. data. Canada issued a similar ban for all government mobile devices on Feb. 27 due to the “unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security,” as well as TikTok’s data collection methods. The app will automatically be removed and blocked from government-issued devices.The European Parliament and Commission, as well as the EU Council have also banned the app from staff phones.The OMB memo joins a bill proposed by House Republicans, HR 1153, which would effectively give President Joe Biden the power to ban TikTok from all devices in the country. The House Foreign Affairs will take up the legislation Tuesday, Feb. 28. The federal government ban appeared in the $1.7 trillion spending bill introduced in December, which signaled the government’s intention to prohibit TikTok use on most federal devices to allay bipartisan concerns that the app could be used by China to steal data or spread misinformation.The proposal was preceded by a similar state effort in Maryland that effectively barred state employees from using various Chinese and Russian software and equipment over national security concerns. Kentucky introduced a similar proposal this month.The new 30-day timeline follows a rise in espionage concerns after multiple Chinese balloons were shot down in U.S. airspace.
Endpoint/Device Security, Application security, Privacy
Feds have 30 days to remove TikTok from devices as US ban debated

Federal agencies have 30 days to remove the TikTok app from devices and systems. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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