New Jersey bans TikTok on state devices

New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has banned the use of social media platform TikTok on state devices, following in the footsteps of several other governors who have moved to restrict use of the app amid mounting security concerns.

"Bolstering cybersecurity is critical to protecting the overall safety and welfare of our State. The proactive and preventative measures that we are implementing today will ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and safety of information assets managed by New Jersey State government," Murphy said Monday, according to The Hill.

ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, maintains its headquarters in Beijing and has close ties to the Chinese Communist Party, though TikTok is not permitted to operate within China.

The close relationship between Beijing and ByteDance has sparked concerns over the security of American user data and the potential for Chinese government access.

Former President Donald Trump attempted to ban the app outright, but was unsuccessful. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has since introduced legislation to do exactly that and the Senate has already backed a measure banning the app's use on federal devices.

The issue is far from partisan. Though many Republican governors have taken similar measures, Murphy is not the first Democrat to do so as Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly made a similar move in late December.