The TikTok logo as shown on a smartphone on July 11, 2022. Photo: Marijan Murat/picture alliance via Getty Images
A growing number of GOP-led states are barring state employees and contractors from using TikTok on government-issued devices as the FBI warns of possible threats to national security posed by the Chinese-owned social media platform.
Driving the news: Texas became the latest to do so on Wednesday, joining South Dakota, South Carolina and Maryland, all of which banned the app on government devices in the past week. Wisconsin Republicans are urging their Democratic governor to do the same.
What they're saying: "[U]nder China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law, all businesses are required to assist China in intelligence work including data sharing, and TikTok’s algorithm has already censored topics politically sensitive to the Chinese Communist Party," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a letter to state officials Wednesday.
Why it matters: TikTok is owned by the Chinese company Bytedance, which is largely subject to the Chinese government given the country's party-state system.
Yes, but: TikTok doesn't operate inside China. ByteDance instead offers a similar version of the app to Chinese customers.
The big picture: TikTok has nevertheless faced growing opposition from officials in both U.S. parties.