Funviralpark
CNN
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In the latest sign of a growing crackdown on the popular short-form video app, a small but growing number of universities are blocking access to TikTok on school-owned devices and WiFi networks.
The University of Oklahoma and Auburn University in Alabama said they would limit access to TikTok for students and faculty, respectively, in response to recent moves by their respective state governors to ban TikTok on government-issued devices. says. Twenty-six colleges and colleges in the Georgia University System are reportedly taking similar steps.
The University of Oklahoma announced that “Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order 2022-33, effective immediately, University employees or students may access the TikTok application or website on any University-owned or operated device, including OU wired and wireless networks.” should not,” he said. email of the week.
The email also states that the school will remove university-controlled TikTok accounts and also demand that they “use alternative social media platforms instead.”
More than a dozen states, including Maryland, South Dakota and Texas, have announced bans on TikTok for state employees on government-issued devices in recent weeks. The ban comes as a growing number of lawmakers continue to scrutinize his TikTok for possible national security concerns, as it is linked to China through its parent company ByteDance.
Criticism increased earlier this year after Buzzfeed News reported that some US user data was being repeatedly accessed from China. Meanwhile, TikTok has confirmed that some employees in China have access to user data in the United States.
“Too many states have jumped on the political bandwagon and done nothing to advance their state cybersecurity, based on unsubstantiated falsehoods about TikTok,” said TikTok spokesman Jamal Brown in a statement. “I’m disappointed that they’re trying to enact a policy,” he said. It was offered to CNN on Thursday.
“The unintended consequences of these hasty policies are beginning to affect the ability of universities to share information, recruit students, and build communities around athletic teams, student groups, campus publications, and more. I am especially sorry for the loss,” Brown added.
Auburn University in Alabama last week followed an executive order from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to block access to and from TikTok social media for national networks and devices. OR started restricting access to TikTok on Wi-Fi networks. application.
However, an Auburn University spokesperson told CNN that the decision was “not an on-campus ban.” TikTok users can still access the app from their personal devices via their mobile data.
Last week, three lawmakers led by Republican Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill aimed at banning TikTok from operating in the United States. In a statement announcing the bill, Rubio accused TikTok of collecting data to “manipulate the feed” and denounced the app as a “CCP.” [Chinese Communist Party]– Puppet Theater
TikTok has been negotiating with the U.S. government for years about a potential deal that would address national security concerns and allow the app to continue serving U.S. customers. , we also take steps to separate US user data from the rest of our business.
In addition, TikTok has scrutinized powerful algorithms that may discourage Rabbit Hole, including directing users, especially the youngest users, to potentially harmful subjects such as suicide and eating disorder content. facing
TikTok is rolling out tools to help users customize content recommendations, as well as parental controls to give users more options to limit what their kids can see in the app. We have made a number of announcements in recent years to allay concerns, such as deploying and pledging more transparency related to content management systems for researchers.
