GREENSBORO, N.C. — Governor Roy Cooper signed an Executive Order that will ban the use of TikTok and Wechat from state-owned devices such as cell phones and computers.
Experts say both apps have been identified as high-risk applications due to a lack of sufficient privacy controls and are based in countries that support cyberattacks against the U.S.
“It’s important for us to protect state information technology from foreign countries that have actively participated in cyberattacks against the United States,” said Cooper.
“Protecting North Carolina from cyber threats is vital to ensuring the safety, security, privacy, and success of our state and its people,” he said.
Representative Jon Hardister (R-Guilford, Majority Whip) issued the following statement: “I commend Governor Roy Cooper for issuing this new guideline prohibiting the use of TikTok on state-issued devices. This is a positive step towards protecting our cybersecurity. As we go into this year's legislative session, the General Assembly will need to consider enacting a permanent statutory solution, along with the creation of a framework to monitor changes in information technology. Moving forward, I will continue to collaborate with the Governor's office, legislative colleagues, and cybersecurity experts to ensure the protection of sensitive data in our state government.”
Former FBI agent and current senior forensic analyst for Computer Forensic Services, Christopher Lester explains what information can be pulled from apps like TikTok.
"When people are sharing information about their daily goings about, they are also sharing information about their name. They can share information about their age and all sorts of data that can be used to form portfolios and get information about general people," he said.
The ban comes just weeks after lawmakers, including several from Guilford County, called for it.
The ban will go into effect in two weeks.