University of Oklahoma bans TikTok after Gov. Stitt’s executive order cites ‘national security concerns’

The University of Oklahoma might be banning the use of the social media app TikTok for college kids and workers, in line with an e-mail despatched out to college students on Tuesday.

In an e-mail, the college mentioned it could be barring web entry for the app in lieu of Governor Kevin Stitt’s executive order banning TikTok on state units.

“In compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order 2022-33, effective immediately, no University employee or student shall access the TikTok application or website on University-owned or operated devices, including OU wired and wireless networks,” David Horton, the Chief Information Officer and Senior Associate Vice President, wrote within the letter despatched to college students on Dec. 20.

Students stroll on campus between clases on the University of Oklahoma on March 11, 2015 in Norman, Oklahoma. 
(Brett Deering/Getty Images)

“As a result of the Executive Order, access to the TikTok platform will be blocked and cannot be accessed from the campus network,” the letter continued. “University-administered TikTok accounts must be deleted and alternate social media platforms utilized in their place.”

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The letter goes on to state TikTok, which operates below the management of the Chinese government, was banned by the governor resulting from “ongoing national and cybersecurity concerns with the TikTok application.”

“Thank you for your cooperation,” Horton concluded.

The TikTok emblem exterior a TikTok workplace on December 20, 2022 in Culver City, California. 
(Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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Gov. Stitt, a Republican, wrote an executive order on Dec. 8 that banned TikTok for all “state government agencies, employees and contractors on government networks or government-issued devices.”

The units embrace “state-issued cellphones, computers, or any other device capable of internet connectivity,” he ordered.

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“We will not participate in helping the Chinese Communist Party gain access to government information,” Stitt mentioned on the time.

“Maintaining the cybersecurity of state government is necessary to continue to serve and protect Oklahoma citizens and we will not participate in helping the Chinese Communist Party gain access to government information,” the governor added.

Oklahoma Sooners Campus through the Oklahoma Sooners sport towards the West Virginia Mountaineers on November 25, 2017 at Gaylord Memorial Stadium in Norman, OK. 
(Richard Rowe/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Images)

Immediately following the governor’s order, Northeastern State University, a public university situated in Tahlequah, additionally banned the app.

NSU’s University Relations division emailed college students, workers, and college notifying them of the coverage change on Dec. 9. 

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The e-mail instructed workers and scholar organizations utilizing official NSU TikTok accounts units to delete them and to delete the app if “housed on NSU-owned, leased, or managed devices,” in line with the Tahlequah Daily Press.

“Northeastern State University is complying with Gov. Stitt’s Executive Order 2022-33,” wrote Dan Mabery, the Vice President for University Relations. “Therefore, university-owned/leased/managed equipment, including the NSU network, may not be used to download or access the TikTok application or website. As a result of the Executive Order, access to the TikTok social media platform will be blacklisted and cannot be accessed from the campus network.”

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Both President Biden and former President Donald Trump have raised points with TikTok getting used within the United States, equally citing nationwide security and surveillance points, with the latter making an attempt to ban the app in its entirety. 

TikTok is a social media app owned by the Chinese firm ByteDance. It is usually utilized by youthful generations that enable customers to share quick movies with annotations or captions or nearly any subject.