ATLANTA (AP) — The University System of Georgia is following Gov. Brian Kemp’s lead and banning using TikTok, WeChat and Telegram on computers and phones owned by the system or any of its 26 universities and colleges.
Spokesperson Kristina Torres confirmed the move Tuesday, after the Republican Kemp on Thursday became considered one of quite a few governors to ban TikTok from state computers. Due to Georgia law, Kemp generally cannot give direct orders to public universities.
Chancellor Sonny Perdue said in a memo that state-owned devices can only be used to access the programs for law enforcement and security purposes.
Perdue said the scholars, faculty and staff could still access the sites on their very own computers and phones, or those owned by university-related foundations, so long as employees don’t also use those devices to access personal information or sensitive information related to school business.
Many Georgia universities use TikTok to court potential latest students and communicate with current students and athletic fans. Not less than 20 public Georgia universities and four-year colleges appear to have TikTok accounts, although some have never posted. Valdosta State University, for instance, appears to have eight separate accounts.
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Some public universities in other states are barring students from using school Wi-Fi networks to access TikTok on their very own devices. Torres didn’t immediately reply to a matter about whether that might occur in Georgia.
Congress is moving to ban TikTok from most U.S. government devices under a spending bill unveiled Tuesday, with requirements for the Biden administration to ban most uses of TikTok or every other app created by its owner, ByteDance Ltd.
A spokesperson for TikTok called the bans a “political gesture” that just isn’t needed to guard national security because TikTok is developing security and data privacy plans to secure the platform within the U.S.
Kemp and others say foreign governments may have the option to access users’ personal information or use the programs for spying operations.
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