Facts

• On Monday, Louisiana and West Virginia became the latest states to ban TikTok on government devices amid concerns data obtained by the Chinese-owned social media app may fall into the hands of its government.^[1]
• This aligns with the Senate's decision last week to ban the app on government devices. The bill still needs approval from the House before going to Pres. Joe Biden. Additionally, the House would need to pass the bill before the current congressional session ends, which is expected this week.^[2]
• Support for the bill was largely bipartisan, with both sides of the aisle claiming that TikTok could negatively impact US national security.^[3]
• However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated last week that she had yet to decide whether the House will join the Senate in backing the legislation, saying, "we're checking with the administration — just in terms of language — not in terms of being opposed to the idea."^[4]
• At least 19 states — including Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Idaho, New Hampshire, Maryland, North Dakota, and Utah — have banned or restricted the use of the app on government devices. Washington is also considering similar measures.^[5]
• TikTok has been the subject of controversy for years, as, in 2020, the Senate also unanimously approved legislation to bar TikTok from government devices. Meanwhile, the company has said that concerns regarding its data usage are largely driven by misinformation.^[6]