Dallas Schools Shut Down TikTok Access Through Community Wi-Fi

Students, teachers, and visitors to Dallas can no longer access TikTok from school district devices and networks.

In Friday’s letter to families, head of school leadership Tiffany Hewitt said the move was in response to concerns about cybersecurity.

“Experts believe that the cybersecurity risk stems from the belief that TikTok’s parent company is tracking user data, including when, where and how a person uses the Internet, which can be used to share sensitive information and ultimately damage our IT infrastructure. ‘ she wrote.

Earlier this month, several universities in Texas popular app also announced was banned from Wi-Fi networks on their campus. Late last year Gov. Greg Abbott government agencies ordered ban employees from downloading or using TikTok on any government devices, joining a growing number of states.

Several federal agencies also ban the use of TikTok on their devices, including the US Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security.

TikTok spokesman Jamal Brown reacted to the moves by universities, saying that app officials are concerned about the possible impact of these policies, such as limiting the ability of schools to share information, recruit students and build communities.

“We are disappointed that so many states are joining in a political win to adopt policies that do nothing to improve cybersecurity in their states and are based on baseless lies about TikTok,” Brown said at the time.

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