The governor of Arkansas bans TikTok on devices owned by the state

Little Rock, Arkansas – Asa Hutchinson, the governor of Arkansas, has prohibited state computers from downloading the TikTok software.

On Friday, December 16, the outgoing governor announced that he had instructed Jonathan Askins, the director of information services for Arkansas, to advise state employees that the social media app is not permitted on their devices. A memo signed by Askins on December 8 established that governmental policy.

It results from a warning issued by FBI Director Christopher Wray on Friday, December 2, highlighting security issues with the program.

This comes as efforts to outlaw TikTok nationally continue, following the U.S. Senate’s passage of a bill barring the software from government-owned devices.

Users who are not state employees are not affected by the restriction in Arkansas.