Local News & NorthwestDecember 22, 2022

Staff report
Little
Little

In response to an executive order from Idaho Gov. Brad Little, the University of Idaho will block access to TikTok from university devices and nonstudent networks.

The UI made this announcement in an email to students Wednesday. Last week, Little announced he is banning TikTok on state-issued devices and networks in an effort to protect Idahoans from security threats posed by the Chinese government.

In a news release, Little stated the communist Chinese government can use the social media app to collect critical information from the state and federal government.The app is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.

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More than a dozen other states have made similar bans against TikTok, and Congress will vote on a spending bill that includes requirements to prohibit the app from most U.S. government devices.

UI students are not restricted from using the app on personal devices the UI announced.

However, the university will block access to TikTok from university-owned devices and nonstudent networks.

According to a report from The Associated Press, Boise State University and Idaho State University made similar bans on their campuses. Little’s order does not apply to K-12 schools or the legislative and judicial branches.

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