US House boots TikTok from government phones

The US government's New Year's resolution for 2023: no more TikTok at work. And the US House of Representatives isn't waiting until January 1 to get started. In an email to members and staff Tuesday, the Committee on House Administration (COA) banned the use of TikTok from House-managed mobile devices. "The Office of …

[DrSunshine0104]

Why would TikTok be on government-owned devices in the first place? I am the admin for MDM in a small local government agency and we can afford such IT oversight and management.

But, I wonder if this is the case of making a statement and making it official, and there are nearly zero US government mobile devices with TikTok installed.

[Gene Cash]

Well, I imagine the PR types would have it for posting job-related bits, but I can't imagine many job related bits.

Everybody sucks user data, but Tiktok is a bit extreme, and it goes beyond "mere" monetization.

Can we ban Facebook next? Please? Pretty please? Pretty please with sugar on it?

I'm so tired of trying to find info on restaurants and other businesses where all they have is a Facebook page, which I've blocked.

[DS999]

It is probably more symbolic

It is something congress can do that's makes it look like they are doing something, and is bipartisan - such things are in pretty short supply these days.

[Piro]

Exactly

I have a sim for work, and I have it in a crappy old phone with nothing but work essentials (like Microsoft authenticator) on it. It doesn't go with me all the time. If you want me to be on call, pay me to be on call.

[Danie]

I'd think then Facebook has already been banned for the same reasons?

[Version 1.0]

Facebook is American so everything on Facebook is accessible by No Such Agency (NSA-International).

[Piro]

It's under US government control, no need

[ecofeco]

Again I ask...

Who the hell thought social media of any kind was a good idea on government systems?

[Piro]

Re: Again I ask...

Civil servants

[BBRush]

Re: Again I ask...

People who want engagement with younger voters in that pesky 18-24 year old bracket. And upcoming voters.

"Look at us, we are so hip and trendy", etc.

[David Pearce]

I was surprised to see a TikTok app installed during a clean Windows10 install.recently

[pc-fluesterer.info]

Old white men and TikTok?

What the hell do old white men have TikTok (TT) for in the first place? Additionally, on "official" devices?

Up to now I thought that TT is only for teeny girls. ;-)

[Anonymous Coward]

omnibus spending bill

"omnibus spending bill" - it's called Omnibus - because everyone gets hit by it (sorry had to)