The state of Michigan has banned the Chinese-owned TikTok app from state-owned devices, with some exceptions. Law enforcement, cybersecurity, and promotional purposes are allowed to continue using the app. However, Governor Gretchen Whitmer is exempt from the ban, as her office claims she needs the app to share important information. In February, she explained that TikTok is a tool for disseminating important information, and the exemption allows her to continue doing so.
According to Jayson Cavendish, Michigan’s acting chief security officer, Whitmer uses a secure device that has never been connected to the state’s network or wireless environment to post her dances. Despite the exemption, some people criticize it as unfair and unnecessary, claiming that the ban should apply equally to all state employees. The concern over TikTok’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party and potential for data privacy violations has led to similar bans in other states.
