Portage County Sheriff's Office. MWC file photo by Mike Leischner
STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — Tik Tok bans are expanding to the local level.
Portage County Executive John Pavelski announced a ban on the Chinese-run app for all county-owned devices including cell phones and computers, saying he doesn’t see any scenario where the risks of the app outweigh the benefits. “Tik Tok is an invasive app,” said Pavelski. “It can steal someone’s information or identity and use it for nefarious purposes. It makes no sense to allow for any country to do that.”
He says based on what he’s read about the app he feels it’s best to follow the state and other groups in removing access to both the mobile application and website.
“The research that shows what Tik Tok is doing, or what it can do, it just makes no sense to put the County at that kind of detriment,” added Pavelski.
The ban extends to approximately 250 county-owned smartphones and well over 600 desktop/laptop computers. Additionally, IT Director Shane Gollnick says the Tik Tok website has been blocked.
Pavelski crafted the ban after a similar one was put in place in Washington County, though couldn’t confirm if any other counties have done the same. The ban has been put in place indifferently, though he adds that he’s willing to revisit the situation if some of the parameters around Tik Tok change.
Governor Tony Evers implemented a statewide ban earlier this year, and numerous other states have done the same. A federal ban is also in place on all government-run devices.
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