Texas TikTok Ban for State Devices, Networks Upheld by Judge

A federal judge upheld Texas’ ban on state employees’ use of Chinese-owned social media app TikTok.

The ban, which was issued by Gov. Greg Abbott in December 2022, prohibits all Texas state employees—including those at public universities—from accessing the app on state-owned devices, devices connected to state owned networks, and personal devices used to conduct state business.

The Knight Institute filed a lawsuit against the ban on behalf of the Coalition for Independent Technology Research in July. The complaint argued the ban is unconstitutional because it stymied the ability of public university professors to teach and pursue academic research.

Judge ...