North Dakota governor bans TikTok

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has issued an executive order banning the social media app TikToc from state-owned devices over growing national security concerns.

It also directs North Dakota Information Technology, the state’s IT department, to implement controls to enforce the ban and to assist partner entities that use the state network if they need help protecting and securing their equipment and employees.

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

As noted in the order, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation recently said the bureau has “national security concerns” about TikTok operations in the United States, warning the Chinese government could use the app to influence users or control their devices.
Burgum says protecting citizens’ data is our top priority.