TikTok app banned on Washington County government devices

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- TikTok is now banned on Washington County government devices.

After discussions with U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann says he believes there are serious issues that the social media app presents to national security.

The move was made in response to concerns the Chinese company that owns the app -and the Chinese government- could use it to mine personal data in the US.

More than 100 million Americans use TikTok every day, including more than two-thirds of US teens. National security experts have grave concerns the app could or will steal their data and pass it along to the Chinese government.

Schoemann said the ban is the right move with so much sensitive information at stake. He said, "It's just not worth it for county employees who control all kinds of data -sensitive data- for our residents and even citizens beyond Washington County."

Schoemann said there have been no security breaches so far but the ban on TikTok is a preventative measure, a logical next step to protect critical information.

He said, "So many people have their credit card information, and so much personal information tied to that phone. It's certainly something that people need to be concerned about. Every swipe of your phone and your location. You think about the metadata that's controlled, where people know exactly where you're going and when you're going places."

TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, which is effectively controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. The app pulls search history, keystroke patterns, and potential biometric data including face prints and voice prints.

Schoemann said that means TikTok could be used as spyware. The Washington County IT Department has control of county-issued cellphones and computers, so the tech team will handle removing the app.

FCC commissioner Brendan Carr called TikTok "digital fentanyl": addictive and dangerous.

For years, the developer said data that was collected was not stored in China, but Carr said, "There was internal communication from TikTok leaked over the summer that showed 'everything is seen back in China.' So, it's a real concern."

Last week, the US Senate voted unanimously to ban TikTok from US government devices. A similar bill in the House is co-sponsored by Congressman Mike Gallagher of De Pere.

Rep. Gallagher said on CNN's State of the Union, "The question we have to ask is whether we want to give the CCP the ability to track our location, track what websites we visit, even when we're not using the TikTok app itself."

Gallagher called TikTok a trojan horse and called the Chinese Communist Party an enemy of the United States.

He said TikTok is, "Highly addictive, highly destructive, it's increasing the loneliness, isolation, and rising rates of suicide and depression we're seeing among America's youth."

Last week, Gallagher introduced a bill to ban TikTok nationally.

Federal agencies like the State Department and Department of Homeland Security have already banned the app on their devices over security concerns.

But FCC Commissioner Carr said even if you delete the app, your data may have been compromised. He said you should consider getting a new phone.