The US government has ordered all federal agencies to remove the TikTok app from their devices within 30 days amid growing security concerns. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued the guidelines on Monday as part of an ongoing effort to address the vulnerability that the popular video-sharing app poses to sensitive government information.
The OMB has cited security concerns for some agencies such as the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and the White House, which have already banned TikTok. The new guidelines aim to ensure that the rest of the government complies within the given timeframe.
The move comes after the US Congress passed the “No TikTok on Government Devices Act” in December as part of the US budget plan. The legislation will only allow the use of TikTok in specific cases, including applications in the fields of national security, law enforcement, and research.
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have emphasized their commitment to protecting the country’s digital infrastructure and preventing foreign adversaries from accessing American data. Chris Derusha, the Chief Information Security Officer, said that the guidelines are part of the ongoing effort of the US administration to ensure the security of the digital infrastructure and protect the security and privacy of Americans.
The Chinese-owned Byte Dance Company’s TikTok has come under increased scrutiny from US authorities in recent years. The US government has raised concerns that the app’s data collection policies could compromise national security, although TikTok has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.