SOCIAL MEDIA

Salt Lake County bans TikTok on government devices

Mar 17, 2023, 8:30 PM | Updated: 8:33 pm
FILE - The TikTok app logo appears in Tokyo on Sept. 28, 2020. U.S. government bans on Chinese-owne...
FILE - The TikTok app logo appears in Tokyo on Sept. 28, 2020. U.S. government bans on Chinese-owned video sharing app TikTok reveal Washington’s own insecurities and are an abuse of state power, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)
(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File)

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake County Council voted last week to ban TikTok on devices it owns, becoming the latest government entity to limit use of the app.

TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has been under increased scrutiny by American politicians because, under Chinese national security law, the company could be compelled to turn over intellectual property and proprietary information of U.S. users to the Chinese government.

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said it’s “no secret that everyone’s concerned about China right now,” and while county employees will still be allowed to use the app on their personal devices, she believes it’s appropriate for the government to put some restrictions in place.

“Tensions are heightened, and I think it’s a tough one,” Wilson said. “You want people to enjoy life in the U.S. and the amenities that it provides, but I do think that there’s some caution that we do need to take at this particular moment.”

Under the new policy, county employees “are not permitted to install, access or use the TikTok application or related internet or social media services on any county IT resource or system,” including county-issued phones and tablets.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox issued a similar executive order in December, prohibiting state agencies or agency employees from downloading or using the app on state-owned phones, computers, laptops and tablets.

KSL 5 TV Live

Top Stories

Social Media

FILE: In this photo illustration, a mobile phone featuring the TikTok app is displayed next to the ...
Kelvin Chan

TikTok CEO to tell Congress app is safe, urge against ban

TikTok’s CEO plans to tell Congress that the video-sharing app is committed to user safety, data protection and security, and keeping the platform free from Chinese government influence.
1 day ago
Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, Sa...
Jill Colvin, Associated Press

‘I’M BACK!’: Trump returns to Facebook after reinstatement

Former President Donald Trump has returned to Facebook after a more than two-year ban.
6 days ago
FILE - Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition, March 9, 2...
Barbara Optutay

Elon Musk apologizes after mocking laid-off Twitter employee

After a former Twitter employee couldn't access his work computer and Twitter's HR couldn't tell him if he was an employee anymore, he did what is what's considered the new normal in Twitter: tag Elon Musk in a tweet.
16 days ago
The Twitter splash page is seen on a digital device, Monday, April 25, 2022, in San Diego. Twitter ...
Associated Press

Twitter glitches as links, images fail to load

Twitter is experiencing a bevy of glitches as links stopped working, some users were unable to log in and Tweetdeck stopped working for others.
17 days ago
(KSL TV)...
Bridger Beal-Cvetko

Efforts to curb youth social media use clear Utah Legislature, await governor’s signature

A pair of social media regulations got final approval in Utah. One requires parental consent for minors to join social media and another makes it easier to sue social media companies.
21 days ago
A screenshot of Mike Lee's personal account being suspended for unknown reasons. (Mike Lee Twitter)...
Brian Fung

Sen. Mike Lee says his personal Twitter account was suspended

The personal Twitter account belonging to Sen. Mike Lee was suspended for an hour before being reactivated after tweeting about it on his government account.
22 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...
BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.
Close up of an offset printing machine during production...
Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.
vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...
Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.
Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...
Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.
notebook with password notes highlighted...
PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.
house with for rent sign posted...
Chase Harrington, president and COO of Entrata

Top 5 Reasons You May Want to Consider Apartment Life Over Owning a Home

There are many benefits of renting that can be overshadowed by the allure of buying a home. Here are five reasons why renting might be right for you.
Salt Lake County bans TikTok on government devices