TikTok is prohibited on official devices in more than 20 US states, Over Security Risks
US Bans TikTok: After U.S. FBI Director Christopher Wray stated in November that TikTok poses hazards to national security, calls to prohibit the app from government devices gained traction.
Kentucky has joined more than 20 other states in prohibiting the popular video app TikTok from being used on official devices, citing security concerns.
The state claimed to have amended its employee handbook to forbid state personnel from accessing the Chinese-owned app “other than for a law enforcement reason” on government-managed devices. The governors of Wisconsin and North Carolina made proclamations on Thursday prohibiting TikTok use on official equipment. Earlier this week, identical moves were also taken in Arkansas, New Jersey, and Ohio.
More states than only TikTok have targeted the app. For instance, the states of New Jersey and Wisconsin have also outlawed suppliers, goods, and services from other Chinese firms like Huawei Technologies, Hikvision, Tencent Holdings, the owner of WeChat, ZTE Corporation, and Kaspersky Lab in Russia.
“Disappointed” that “so many states are jumping on the political bandwagon to enact regulations that will do nothing to promote cybersecurity in their jurisdictions and are based on unsubstantiated claims about TikTok,” TikTok stated in a statement.
The governors of the majority of the states that have taken action thus far are Republicans, although those of Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Kentucky are all Democrats.
After U.S. FBI Director Christopher Wray stated in November that TikTok poses hazards to national security, calls to prohibit it from government computers gained momentum.
The possibility that the Chinese government could use the software to sway users or manage their devices was raised by Wray.
For the past three years, TikTok, which has more than 100 million members, has worked to reassure Washington that the Chinese Communist Party or any other organisation influenced by Beijing cannot access the personal information of American people or alter its content.
A government financing bill with a restriction on TikTok use and download for federal employees was signed into law by President Joe Biden last month.
TikTok must be removed off federal devices within 60 days, according to the statute, which provides the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the authority.
1,200 jobs are at risk as Amazon closes its warehouses.
Amazon, the online retailer, has stated that it intends to close three warehouses in the UK, putting 1,200 jobs in danger.
However, the company also stated that over the next three years, it would open two new centers, which would result in the creation of 2,500 jobs.
In the west of Scotland, the three warehouses being shut down are in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster, and Gourock.
The company stated that employees at the shutting down locations would be offered the chance to relocate to other Amazon locations.
In an effort to cut costs, Amazon announced last week that it would eliminate more than 18,000 jobs worldwide, the largest number in the company’s history.
According to a spokesperson for Amazon who spoke with the BBC, the decision to close the warehouses in the United Kingdom was made following a review of the country’s operations and was “completely unrelated” to the larger cuts, which primarily affect office staff.
Amazon warns of slower sales as economy weakens and plans to cut 18,000 jobs. The company said the new warehouses in Peddimore, West Midlands, and Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, would be “state of the art” robotic facilities.
The business stated, “We’re always evaluating our network to ensure that it fits our business needs and to improve the experience for our employees and customers.”
In addition, Amazon intends to open two new delivery facilities in Havant and Aylesford and close seven delivery facilities in England that currently employ dozens of people.
