newsyoungkin issues executive order banning tiktok from state government phones
Virginia

Youngkin issues executive order banning TikTok from state government phones

Chris Graham
tiktok
(© prima91 – stock.adobe.com)

Virginia is the latest state to ban TikTok from state government phones and wireless networks, with Gov. Glenn Youngkin issuing an executive order on Friday.

The move comes on the heels of a unanimous Senate vote on Wednesday on a bill that would prohibit individuals from downloading or using the app on devices issued by the federal government.

That legislation has the backing of outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said Friday that she supports adding legislation to ban TikTok on government devices to a federal funding bill.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has introduced legislation that would extend that ban nationwide.

“This isn’t about creative videos — this is about an app that is collecting data on tens of millions of American children and adults every day. We know it’s used to manipulate feeds and influence elections,” Rubio said in a statement on his proposed legislation this week.

Rubio’s colleague on the Intelligence Committee, committee chair Mark Warner, who is also a former governor of Virginia, said in a statement that he is on board with Youngkin’s action in Virginia regarding TikTok.

“TikTok has the stamp of approval of the Chinese Communist Party and it poses a serious national security threat due to its data collection practices and its ability to reach and manipulate Americans. I hope to see more states take action to keep our government technology out of the CCP’s reach,” Warner said.

Youngkin said Friday that TikTok and WeChat, which is also subject to the ban in his executive order, “are a channel to the Chinese Communist Party, and their continued presence represents a threat to national security, the intelligence community, and the personal privacy of every single American.”

“We are taking this step today to secure state government devices and wireless networks from the threat of infiltration and ensure that we safeguard the data and cybersecurity of state government,” Youngkin said.

Attorney General Jason Miyares, like Youngkin, a Republican, has joined a bipartisan group of 43 state AGs investigating TikTok’s physical and mental impact on children, and noted in a statement on Friday that “studies have shown that it negatively impacts the mental health of our youth.”

“As this investigation continues, I am glad that Gov. Youngkin is addressing the serious security risks TikTok poses for the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said.

Executive Order #24 can be found here.

Video

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris has won 17 Virginia Press Association awards for his work as an investigative reporter, feature writer and columnist. Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination and Team of Destiny: Inside Virginia Basketball’s Run to the 2019 National Championship, both published in 2019, and The Worst Wrestling Pay-Per-View Ever, published in 2018. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to my YouTube page, youtube.com/chrisgrahamAFP. Want to reach Chris? Try [email protected].

Latest News

baseball richmond flying squirrels
Sports

Richmond Flying Squirrels blasted by Erie, 11-1, have now lost five straight

missing
Virginia

Fairfax County Police Department leading search for missing 51-year-old woman

The Fairfax County Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a 51-year-old female. 

baseball
Sports

Army baseball coach Chris Tracz previews Charlottesville Super Regional

Army coach Chris Tracz talks with Hootie about the Cadets season, the program's fifth straight Patriot League championship and gives great insight into his team, which will take on Virginia in the Charlottesville regional opener this Friday.

wheat harvest farm
Local

Headwaters Soil & Water Conservation District to host free workshop with cost share information

chase elliott
Sports

Chase Elliott suspended for wrecking Denny Hamlin in Monday’s Coca-Cola 600

police emergency fire
Virginia

Medical emergency factors into fatal two-vehicle crash in Orange County

uva baseball gelof
Sports

Get to know Virginia’s opponents in this weekend’s Charlottesville Regional