gencies play catch-up over TikTok security concerns

Lawmakers scored another win in their fight against TikTok after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) barred its employees from using the megapopular video app.

But the latest episode also highlighted frustration that various government agencies have been slow to recognize the potential threat from TikTok — and how difficult it can be to manage employees’ personal social media presences.

The TSA move came after criticism from Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who along with other China hawks have raised concerns about government employees using the app, which they claim could allow China to access sensitive information about people in the U.S.

Over the past several months, agencies that deal with national security and intelligence issues have completely banned their employees from using TikTok on any government-issued devices. The bans have come as a U.S. government committee conducts a national security probe into TikTok, which is owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance.

But enforcement has been spotty and government employees, particularly military service members, have continued to inundate the app with videos posted from their personal devices, which is not technically a violation of any rules.