Campus News

Summary:

Governor Tate Reeves issued a directive earlier this month to Mississippi departments and agencies banning TikTok and other software applications developed by ByteDance Ltd (referred to collectively as TikTok) from all state-issued government devices and the state’s network. 

What this means: 

• TikTok will no longer be accessible on the university’s network.
• UM employees may not download or use TikTok on state-issued devices. UM employees who installed TikTok on state-issued devices are required to delete the app no later than Jan. 31, 2023.

Background:

• Citing concerns about data security and protection of intellectual property, the Governor’s directive names TikTok as a security threat that can be used to gain access to sensitive information stored on electronic devices.
• The governor’s actions are similar to actions taken by the federal government and other states banning TikTok due to national security concerns.