More than half of US states have cracked down on access to TikTok from government devices | CNN Business

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More than half of all US states have partially or fully banned TikTok from government devices, according to a CNN analysis, reflecting a wave of recent crackdowns by governors and state agencies targeting the format video app short

States’ accelerated backlash against TikTok, which has at least 100 million users in the U.S., spans Republican- and Democratic-governed states and spans every region of the country.

Many states have targeted TikTok for executive action, with governors banning the social media platform from government networks and devices. But some have gone further, adding other apps with links to China to their ban lists, including WeChat and AliPay.

A handful of states are mulling legislation to restrict TikTok, mirroring similar efforts at the federal level by US lawmakers.

The moves come amid renewed security concerns about TikTok’s US user data and fears it could find its way to the Chinese government. Nearly two dozen states announced restrictions late last year amid reports that a negotiation between TikTok and the US government had stalled over whether the company could continue to offer its services in the United States.

A potential national security deal is still under review, TikTok said, adding that it believes a mutual agreement with federal officials is the best way to resolve security concerns.

“We are disappointed that so many states are jumping on the bandwagon to enact policies based on baseless and politically charged falsehoods about TikTok,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement provided to CNN last month about the state actions.

“It’s unfortunate,” the spokesperson said, “that TikTok’s many state agencies, offices and universities in these states can no longer use it to build communities and connect with constituents.”