New York City has banned the use of TikTok on government-owned devices due to security concerns. The ban, which was announced on Wednesday, applies to all city agencies, including the police department, fire department, and the mayor’s office.
The city’s Cyber Command determined that TikTok “posed a security threat to the city’s technical networks,” according to a statement from Mayor Eric Adams’ office. The statement did not specify the nature of the security threat, but it cited reports that TikTok has been used by the Chinese government to collect data on its users.
The ban will go into effect within 30 days. Employees who violate the ban will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
