Some universities are scrutinizing or blocking usage of the social media platform TikTok on school devices and networks amid cybersecurity concerns surrounding the video-sharing app and its parent company, ByteDance.
Dr. Richard Forno
TikTok and Chinese company ByteDance has been gaining attention for connections with Chinese state media and potential influence from the Chinese government. The company was even reported to have been tracking and spying on journalists.
The University of Oklahoma (OU) said in a statement that it will be reviewing potential security concerns related to TikTok. Last month, Oklahoma Gov. J. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order banning state government agencies, employees, and contractors on government networks or government-issued devices from using the app.
“Given recent clarification from the Governor’s Office that Executive Order 2022-33 does not apply to public universities, we will undertake a review of the security concerns that TikTok may pose to our network systems while giving consideration to how a ban would impact our university community,” the OU statement read.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey instituted a similar ban in Alabama. In response, Auburn University has begun work to block and remove TikTok on university-owned devices, at the same time clarifying that there is no general campus ban on the app.
“In accordance with Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s recent executive order requiring all state-owned networks and devices to block access to and from the TikTok social media application, Auburn University’s Office of Information Technology began blocking TikTok on campus via wi-fi access on Dec. 13,” Auburn said in a statement. “Efforts are underway to remove TikTok from all state-owned devices provided by Auburn.
“Note also that the new policy recommends removing TikTok from personal devices to protect a person’s privacy there as well. The governor’s order addresses the growing risk of intrusive social media applications harvesting data totally unrelated to business use of the platform.”
