TikTok will not be allowed on any devices of the US federal government
TikTok After lawmakers passed the $1.7 trillion spending bill, almost all federal devices will be banned. Officials crammed The No TikTok on Government Devices Act (the Senate unanimously approved last weekInto the massive 4,155-page Omnibus Bill. In order to avoid a partial shutdown, the spending package had to be fast tracked. It will continue to fund the government until September.
The Senate voted 68 to 29 in favor of the bill’s passage on December 22nd. It was passed by the House with a vote of 225-201. The same day, President Joe Biden was also present. signed a stopgap bill In order to avoid a shutdown, the government was extended for another week until the omnibus bill arrived on his desk. Today, President Biden signed this bill into law.
The legislation directs the Biden administration that rules be established to eliminate TikTok government devices by February mid-February. The bill made exceptions for elected representatives, congressional staff, and law enforcement agents, among other officials. The House of Representatives however, did not approve the bill. separately banned TikTok on the devices it manages.
Chris Wray, FBI Director, warned China earlier this month that the app (which is owned Beijing-based ByteDance) could be used to collect user data. Although some efforts have been made to collect data, others have failed. including in the last few weeksTo ban TikTok completely in the US. TikTok has been banned from all government devices in several states, including Georgia, South Dakota, Maryland Texas. Indiana has sued TikTok Concerned about alleged safety and security concerns for children.
TikTok tried to calm US lawmakers’ fears that the app could potentially be used for spying. It has been redirecting all traffic to Oracle servers in the United States since June. ByteDance, TikTok, and ByteDance stated that they would erase US user data from both their servers in the US or Singapore. Oracle was acquired in August. began a review TikTok’s algorithms Moderation and content management systems.
While Congress was voting on the bill’s passage, news broke that ByteDance fired four employees There were two Chinese and one American journalists who had access to the TikTok data. They were said to have been trying to locate leak sources for the reporters.
Other tech-related provisions are included in the Omnibus Bill, such as more federal funding. antitrust officials. Additionally, the package includes the Computers for Veterans and Students Act. This law requires that the government hand over surplus computers to non-profits. These systems will be repaired or refurbished and distributed to seniors, veterans, and other people in need.
Another $1.8 billion of new funding is available. implement the CHIPS and Science ActThis bill aims at increasing domestic production. Omnibus bill earmarks $25.4 billion for NASA — 5.6 percent more It received more in fiscal 2022 than it did in fiscal 2022, but less that the White House requested of it: $26 billion. The National Science Foundation will receive $9.9 billion. This is an increase of 12 per cent. The National Institute of Standards and Technology and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration both will see increases of 32 percent, up to $1.6billion, and 17.5 per cent (up to $761 million).