Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is banning the social media video app TikTok on all Department of State-issued devices. He is calling on Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same on a statewide level.
Deputy Secretary for Outreach Services, Joel Watson, says Chinese owned TikTok poses a risk to your personal identification.
“And this is coming from other national security experts who worry that the information collected on TikTok can be used by various people like the Chinese Communist Party,” said Watson.
Ardoin believes that banning TikTok statewide would protect their data and reaffirm the commitment to privacy for constitutes. Watson says Louisiana isn’t the only state facing immediate banning.
“Seven state governors thus far have banned on state issued devices, and were calling on Governor Edwards to do the same thing here,” said Watson.
Watson says this decision is important because it allows them to be an example for important cyber security matters.
“The Secretary believes that we have a responsibility and a duty in this office, to protect our constituents personal identifying information and also to be an example and roll model on cyber security so that’s what were doing here today,” said Watson.