John Paul M. Joaquin Tech 01.20.2023 05:Jan AM EST

Two Texas Universities Ban TikTok From Their IT Networks and Devices — Here’s Why

The number of universities banning TikTok from their campus networks and devices went up by two.

The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University recently announced they are banning the popular social media app from their networks and devices in line with the order Texas Governor Greg Abbott placed in the state.

Gov. Abbott previously ordered Texas state agencies to ban TikTok from all government devices in early December 2022 due to the growing threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) gaining access to critical US information and infrastructure.

University of Texas at Austin & Texas A&M University TikTok Ban Details

The University of Texas at Austin mentioned in its announcement that it blocked TikTok access on its networks, preventing people from accessing the website/app on any device so long as it is connected to the university's wired or Wi-Fi networks.

It also mentioned it had begun the process of removing TikTok from all government-issued devices, including university-issued cell phones, laptops, and tablets, following Gov. Abbott's directive regarding the removal and blocking of TikTok on all government devices.

According to the University, the ban was meant to eliminate risks to the information contained in its network and critical infrastructure. It would also prevent the CCP from harvesting vast amounts of data from its devices, which includes when, where, and how it conducts internet activity.

The same is true with Texas A&M University, with it announcing it is blocking access to TikTok on its campus network and state-owned devices due to the growing cybersecurity concerns the app presents, per KBTX.

The university decided to block the popular social media platform based on both "state and federal orders and concerns." Aside from the ban, it is now in the process of putting network-based filtering in place to block both wireless and wired access to downloading or accessing the app from its campus network.

As such, students, faculty, staff, and visitors will be unable to download and access the app while their devices are connected to its network.

There is one difference between the two universities. Unlike Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin mentioned it is still allowing "legitimate" uses of TikTok to support university functions like law enforcement, academic research, and even investigatory matters. However, these students and staff must request an exemption through its Information Security Office. Once approved, those who wish to access TikTok can do so on an isolated, single-purpose university-issued device not connected to its Wi-Fi or wired network.

TikTok's Security Risks

TikTok's security risks have been the talk of the global community even before the year changed. Congress prohibited the installation and use of TikTok on all government-issued smartphones due to the threat the app poses.

According to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, TikTok's nature of collecting data from phones means that China could use sensitive and non-public data TikTok collected for "blackmail, espionage, influence foreign campaigns, and surveillance."

TikTok's nature of supposedly being a surveillance tool for the Chinese government got the company into trouble with the French government, which fined its UK and Ireland branches $5.4 million due to the difficulty in disabling TikTok's cookies and "inadequate disclosure of their purpose."