New York City has taken the step of prohibiting TikTok usage on city-owned devices and mandating the removal of the app from all municipal agencies within the next 30 days.

This directive, issued on Wednesday, follows a review conducted by the NYC Cyber Command. According to a city official, the review revealed that TikTok presented a security risk to the city's technical networks. Effective immediately, city employees are forbidden from downloading or using the TikTok app and are not permitted to access the app's website using any city-owned devices.

The spokesperson for New York City Hall stated, "While social media is great at connecting New Yorkers with one another and the city, we have to ensure we are always using these platforms in a secure manner." The statement also highlighted the regular efforts of NYC Cyber Command to take proactive measures in safeguarding the data of New Yorkers.

The decision to ban TikTok was based on guidelines from the US Office of Management and Budget that discourage the use of TikTok on government devices. Additionally, federal legislation was passed earlier this year, further restricting the use of the app.

The scrutiny on TikTok has persisted for over three years in Congress, with attempts to enact nationwide legislation to ban the app. Concerns have been raised about the data collection practices of TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, allegedly posing a potential risk for spying on Americans.