State Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill | Pennsylvania
State Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill | Pennsylvania
The House State Government Committee has approved legislation that would ban state government agencies from downloading and using TikTok, a popular social media app. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), aims to protect Pennsylvania's data and networks from cybersecurity threats posed by foreign entities.
Under this legislation, all government agencies, departments, and commissions would be required to remove the TikTok application from state networks and implement measures to prevent its installation. Additionally, network-based restrictions would be put in place to prevent the use of or access to prohibited services.
"The cybersecurity risk that TikTok poses to Pennsylvanians and their private information is not a Republican or Democratic issue – it is a Pennsylvania issue," said Sen. Phillips-Hill. "Our state government must take action against nefarious foreign actors that imperil the safety and security of our data and networks."
TikTok, a video-sharing platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has raised concerns worldwide regarding its data privacy practices. It has been accused of cyber-espionage, surveillance of government entities, and inappropriate collection of sensitive personal information.
The bipartisan support for this legislation was evident as it was approved by the House State Government Committee. Sen. Phillips-Hill expressed her gratitude for bringing the bill up for a vote.
"TikTok presents an unacceptable level of cybersecurity risk to the commonwealth," she stated. "We need to ensure that Pennsylvania's systems are protected from the potential threats posed by these rogue foreign governmental entities."
The legislation will now proceed to the House of Representatives for consideration. If passed, it will serve as a significant step towards safeguarding Pennsylvania's data and networks from potential cyber threats associated with TikTok.
To learn more, click on this link: https://senatorkristin.com/2023/12/12/house-committee-advances-phillips-hills-tiktok-ban/
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