A federal judge in Texas upheld a ban preventing state employees from using TikTok on government devices and networks. The ban was challenged by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University in July, but the judge found that it was a “reasonable restriction” due to concerns about data privacy. The ban was narrower than a similar ban in Montana, and universities in over 20 states have banned TikTok due to national security concerns. The Knight First Amendment Institute wants Texas and other states to exempt university faculty from the bans. Lawmakers in the US, Europe, and Canada have also escalated efforts to restrict access to TikTok over concerns about data privacy and misinformation. Neither the Knight First Amendment Institute nor TikTok could be reached for comment.
