Gov. Greg Abbott has unveiled a statewide security plan to address the vulnerabilities posed by TikTok and other software used by state agencies on personal and state-issued devices.
According to the Office of the Texas Governor, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Information Resources has developed this model plan to guide state agencies in managing these devices. Each agency had to implement its own policy based on the model plan by Feb. 15.
"The security risks associated with the use of TikTok on devices used to conduct the important business of our state must not be underestimated or ignored," Abbott said.
However, the prohibited use of social media applications is not alone. The plan is to remove multiple communication devices.
The security plan aims to ban and prevent the use of TikTok and other prohibited technologies on all state-issued devices including cell phones, laptops and tablets.
Therefore, the IT department of each agency must enforce this ban strictly. Employees or contractors will not be allowed to conduct state business on personal devices that use prohibited technologies. The plan also calls for identifying sensitive locations and personnel and implementing network restrictions to prevent the use of prohibited technologies.
In previous years, action has already taken place to protect from potential threats.
Abbott signed the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act in 2021 to fortify physical infrastructure against potential threats, including hostile foreign actors. In December 2022, he directed state agencies to ban employees from downloading or using TikTok on government-issued devices. The Executive Branch is ready to assist in implementing any necessary cybersecurity reforms passed by the current legislative session, including making the governor's directive permanent through legislation.
