North Texas county bans TikTok for government devices

COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — People who work for Collin County will no longer be allowed to have TikTok on their government-issued devices. 

With more than 85 million users in the U.S., the video-sharing mobile application TikTok is owned by a Chinese company that employs Chinese Communist Party members and has a subsidiary partially owned by the Chinese Communist Party, Abbott noted in letters to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker Dade Phelan and state agency leaders.

Regarding TikTok on personal devices, Abbott said Texas DPS and Texas Department of Information Resources will develop a model plan for other state agencies by Jan. 15, 2023. Each agency will have until Feb. 15, 2023, to implement its own policy.

The governor said his office was ready to assist in codifying and implementing any necessary cybersecurity reforms when the 88th Texas Legislature convenes next year, including passing legislation to make his directives on TikTok permanent.