Permanent TikTok ban on state-issued SC phones could be law after Chinese spy balloon drama
Days after a Chinese spy balloon was shot down off the shores of Myrtle Beach, a bipartisan group of South Carolina lawmakers are pushing for a bill to permanently ban the Chinese-owned TikTok app from government-issued cellphones.
State Rep. Heather Bauer, D-Richland, filed a bill to ban TikTok from state-issued phones late last year because of fears the Chinese government could use the social media video app to collect private data.
She and state Rep. Bobby Cox, R-Greenville, renewed a call Tuesday to ban the app after a Chinese spy balloon seen floating across the United States raised alarm.
Gov. Henry McMaster in December asked the Department of Administration to remove TikTok from all state-issued devices managed by the department.
After McMaster’s request, the Department of Administration immediately blocked TikTok on 65,000 devices on the state’s network, which most state agencies use, agency spokeswoman Brooke Bailey said in an email to The State. However, colleges and universities, the legislative branch and the judicial branch were not part of the Department of Administration’s efforts to ban TikTok on their devices because the agency does not provide them with computer network services.
The agency also installed internet security and web-filtering software on all state agency-issued laptops, desktops, tablets, cellphones and other electronic devices to block TikTok.
“We think it’s good what (the governor is) doing, but we want to codify it to make sure it’s long-lasting and not just through one administration,” Cox said. “We want it to last the test of time when it comes to protecting the privacy on these government devices.”
TikTok is a video-sharing app, owned by the Chinese technology company ByteDance, and had more than 1 billion users around the world in 2021, according to CNBC.
The app tracks users’ likes, dislikes and personal information such as phone numbers, email addresses and WiFi networks, CBS news has reported.
Because the app is owned by a Chinese company, U.S. officials have warned the Chinese government could force the company to share the data it collects.
“(TikTok) causes the greatest national security threat for our country and state,” Bauer said.
The bill would not extend to South Carolinians’ private devices, but Cox said he would recommend people delete the app from their phones anyway.
“It’s a good fun, entertaining platform, but at what cost are you enjoying that entertainment?” Cox said. “People just need to be aware of (the) risk.”
More than half of all U.S. states and the federal government have banned TikTok on government-issued devices because of national security concerns.
Bauer said some exceptions could be made with a TikTok ban.
Bauer said she would entertain carve outs for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism or state museums that use TikTok for marketing purposes.
Law enforcement may need to have access to TikTok when gathering evidence in a case.
Bauer said if TikTok is used on a non-state phone, law enforcement could use a forensic tool that is secured for cybersecurity purposes.
She said a carve out could be added for law enforcement if they need the app for surveillance purposes, but it would require using a computer not on the state network or on a computer with appropriate security measures.
Bauer’s bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and has more than 40 cosponsors, but it has not had a hearing yet.
“It is our job to oversee the security of our constituents and everyone in South Carolina,” Bauer said.
This story was originally published February 8, 2023 at 10:27 AM.
