Gross Votes in Favor of Bill to Ban TikTok on Government Devices

COLUMBUS –The Ohio House of Representatives yesterday passed House Bill 17, legislation to protect the security of Ohio, said State Rep. Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester).

Following a state executive order issued in January 2023, House Bill 17 will prohibit the download, installation, and use of any applications or services owned by an entity located in China, including TikTok and WeChat, on government devices.

“While I believe there is much more we need to do to address cybersecurity concerns, I believe this is a good first step in the right direction,” said Gross. “When we invest in the security of our state, we invest in all Ohioans.”

The bill does not prohibit Ohioans from using TikTok or other Chinese-based applications on their personal devices.

The legislation heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.