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China: Luo Yonghao TIKTOK
NEW YORK (77WABC) — A Bill introduced in the New York State legislature would ban New York employees and contractors from downloading TikTok onto government-issued electronics.
The proposal is out of fear of Chinese espionage. New York would be the sixth state to ban TikTok from taxpayer funded devices.
The proposed ban would cover cell phones, computers and other internet-capable devices. The restrictions would immediately take effect if Governor Kathy Hochul signs the bill into law — upon passage in the state Senate and Assembly.
Bytedance — which owns TikTok — has argued that steps are being taken to safeguard user data in the U.S.
States like Texas, Maryland, South Carolina, South Dakota and Nebraska have already made moves to block TikTok on taxpayer-funded devices.