The University of Texas at Austin blocks TikTok from its computer network | CNN Business
Washington
CNN
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The University of Texas at Austin blocked TikTok from its computer network Wednesday under an earlier order by Gov. Greg Abbott banning the short-form video app from state-run electronic resources.
The move makes it impossible for TikTok users to access the app, even on personal devices, if they connect through the school’s wired or wireless networks, the university wrote in a message posted on its web site
“The university is taking these important steps to eliminate risks to information contained on the university’s network and to our critical infrastructure,” the message said, citing Abat’s state directive that highlighted the fear that the data of TikTok users in the United States could fall into the hands of the Chinese. government
The university had already begun removing TikTok from mobile phones, tablets and other official devices as part of compliance with the directive, the message continued.
The university is not the first to restrict TikTok from its network. The University of Oklahoma and Auburn University in Alabama have taken steps to crack down on TikTok in response to orders from their respective states’ governors. In total, more than half of states have banned TikTok from government devices, according to a recent CNN analysis.
The bans come as a growing number of lawmakers continue to scrutinize TikTok over potential national security concerns because of its ties to China through its parent company, ByteDance.
TikTok has previously said it is “disappointed” to see “so many states jumping on the political bandwagon to enact policies that will do nothing to advance cybersecurity in their states and are based on unfounded falsehoods about TikTok.”
“We are especially sorry to see the unintended consequences of these hasty policies begin to affect universities’ ability to share information, recruit students, and build communities around sports teams, student groups, campus publications, and more.” , the company said previously.
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