Baltimore to ban use of TikTok on city network, devices

Baltimore’s employees will be banned from using the social media app TikTok as a result of cybersecurity concerns surrounding the platform, which is tied to the Chinese government. The ban, which was announced last week via a memo from the Baltimore City Information Technology Department, is being enacted due to concerns over TikTok’s harvesting of “extensive amounts of sensitive data” from users. The app — widely used to share short, catchy videos — collects user search and browsing history, keystroke patterns, location data and biometrics, including faceprints and voiceprints.