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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida is discouraging the use of TikTok and recommends students delete the app.
Elias G. Eldayrie, vice president and chief information officer for UF, sent out an email Thursday morning about the security risks associated with the app. There is a “strong possibility” TikTok will be banned from use on university devices and networks, Eldayrie said in the email.
The university has been monitoring developments on TikTok and encouraged students to delete the app to protect their personal information and university data.
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Experts call the app a national security concern because foreign governments may use it to control data collection and compromise devices, according to the email. More than 20 states, including Florida, have banned the app on government-issued devices. Auburn University and the University of Oklahoma also banned the use of the app on its internet networks.
The UF’s Fast Path solutions website has a list of approved technologies. There are over 500 applications listed with their classifications as open, sensitive or restricted. High-risk software and services are listed as not permitted for use.
The university treats the protection of data as a priority, according to the email, and is considering adding TikTok to the not permitted list.
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