TikTok (...in my opinion)

(Note my take in blue text below)

In December of 2022, a proposal by Wisconsin Republicans (Rep. Mike Gallagher, Sen. Ron Johnson, and Reps. Glenn Grothman, Bryan Steil, Scott Fitzgerald, and Tom Tiffany) asked Governor Tony Evers to ban TikTok from from all state government devices.

MY TAKE: I absolutely could not agree more with this request and encourage Governor Evers to take immediate action. TikTok is bound by Chinese Law and IS absolutely, 100%, a risk to our national security. This issue is not, nor should it ever be, even remotely a political issue. The US military banned its members from using TikTok on government devices or at all in late 2019 and early 2020, as did the Transportation Security Administration and some other federal agencies. I would like to publicly encourage Governor Evers to take the same action in Wisconsin.

NOTE: Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.


Note: Although they're owned by the same company, China's version of TikTok offers a child-friendly version, with educational videos and a time limit, that isn't offered in the United States. To quote Rep. Mike Gallagher: "TikTok is like 'digital fentanyl' for users."


** Dec 9, 2022, reply from the Office of State Senator Dale Kooyenga | 5th Senate District **

"Last session, Sen. Kooyenga authored Senate Bill 786 (SB786) which would have tightened security standards for the procurement of state devices. While that bill passed the Senate on a party-line vote, it did not receive a vote in the Assembly".



Jan 13, 2023 Update...

Wisconsin governor bans popular TikTok app - SCOTT BAUER - Associated Press

  • "Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers ordered the ban, which also includes WeChat, after he said he consulted with the FBI and emergency management officials. He cited potential risks to privacy, safety and security. Evers' order applies to most state agencies, with some exceptions like criminal investigators who may be using the app to track certain people."

  • "TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2020. It has been targeted by critics who say the Chinese government could access user data, such as browsing history and location. U.S. armed forces also have prohibited the app on military devices."

How to delete your TikTok account...

  1. In the app, click the profile icon on the bottom right.

  2. Click the three-line icon on the top right.

  3. Click on settings and privacy > manage account > delete account.

  4. Follow the prompts.

Additional Links...

  • Is TikTok still a security risk 2022? "All of the concerns with TikTok are heightened in the military context.” In June, BuzzFeed reported on leaked audio from internal TikTok meetings that contain statements from nine TikTok staffers that Chinese employees had access to U.S. personal user data as recently as January 2022. - Source

  • What are the negative effects of TikTok? "Some experts believe that TikTok's algorithm can promote content related to depression, anxiety and eating disorders, according to CBS News. In 2021, The Wall Street Journal conducted its own investigation into the app." - Source

  • The FBI says the video-sharing app TikTok poses national security concerns - Source

  • Wired: It’s Time to Get Real About TikTok’s Risks

    • "With so many users, TikTok is clearly a potentially rich source of personal data and could be exploited in the way other social platforms have been to spread disinformation or promote influence operations."

Bill Maher: TikTok is screwing up kids' brains, and no one seems to care or want to do anything about it.

Utah bans TikTok from public devices, joining other Republican states


BIZ DATA - Where Is TikTok Banned? Tracking the Action State by State

  • "TikTok, the massively popular social video platform owned by the Beijing-based company ByteDance, has already been banned on government-owned devices in several U.S. states because of security concerns."