Pa. lawmaker proposes banning TikTok on state-owned devices and networks

HARRISBURG (KDKA) – Pennsylvania could possibly be the following state to ban TikTok from state-owned units and networks if a proposal by state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) turns into legislation. 

Senate Invoice 379 would prohibit the TikTok app from state-owned units and networks, together with – for instance – Wi-Fi networks at state faculty campuses. 

The rationale? 

“TikTok presents an unacceptable stage of cybersecurity threat,” Phillips-Hill mentioned. 

TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese language firm, and a few cybersecurity specialists and political leaders have grown involved Chinese language legislation might compel TikTok to supply delicate consumer information – together with from U.S. customers – to China’s authorities. 

College students who spoke Monday with CBS Information at Penn State College’s Harrisburg campus largely expressed help for the concept of limiting TikTok from state-owned units and networks. 

TikTok “positively should not be on state-owned grounds the place it might get delicate info,” mentioned Tyler Boyar, a pc science and finance pupil who’s initially from Putnam County, New York, north of New York Metropolis. 

To date, Phillips-Hill’s invoice has attracted solely Republican co-sponsors, though no lawmakers have expressed public opposition to it. Governor Josh Shapiro’s (D) press workplace did not instantly reply to a message asking whether or not he has a place on the difficulty. 

The state’s treasurer, Stacy Garrity (R), has already banned treasury workers from utilizing TikTok on treasury units and networks. 

Phillips-Hill mentioned she would not personally use TikTok due to the danger however is not making an attempt to forestall anybody else from utilizing it. 

“Units that probably have entry to state info, the state networks – that is the place we’re specializing in our efforts,” she mentioned. 

In Texas, the place an analogous ban is already in place – in that case following a directive from the state’s governor, Greg Abbott (R), college students have expressed combined views. 

“It is smart why they’d ban TikTok,” mentioned George Leing, a College of Houston pupil. 

“If you are going to ban TikTok, it is like banning YouTube, it is like banning Instagram—all of these platforms for folks to community themselves, to get on the market in entrance of different folks,” mentioned Jacob Bey, a Texas Southern College pupil.