No TikTok ban in Ohio, bucking trend in GOP-led states

Ohio’s public staff would possibly wish to get pleasure from TikTok memes whereas they nonetheless can.

Driving the information: A rising variety of GOP-led states are banning the app on state-owned units, Axios’ Shawna Chen writes.

• However Ohio shouldn’t be but one in every of them.

Why it issues: Leaders of those states say the transfer is critical to keep off cybersecurity dangers, because the video-sharing app is owned by Chinese language firm ByteDance.

Risk degree: FBI director Chris Wray has warned that the Chinese language authorities may use the app to entry the information of American customers.

The opposite aspect: A TikTok consultant instructed our colleagues at Axios Salt Lake Metropolis these considerations are fueled by misinformation.

• The platform says it doesn’t retailer any U.S. person information in China.

What they’re saying: A spokesperson for Gov. Mike DeWine tells Axios the state is “continually evaluating safety measures and insurance policies,” together with these involving social media utilization.

• “Such opinions, together with these of TikTok, are ongoing.”

State of play: Ohio usually prohibits employees from utilizing taxpayer-funded cell telephones for private causes unrelated to official state enterprise.

• State businesses may also set extra stringent insurance policies for his or her staff.
• For instance, the Division of Rehabilitation and Correction doesn’t permit social media use on state units except for investigative functions and enforces guidelines on digital conduct even for private pages.

Zoom in: A number of public entities, just like the Ohio Division of Transportation, have official TikTok accounts.