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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 1 March 2023
White House: No more TikTok on gov’t devices within 30 days

By SEUNG MIN KIM Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.,
Associated Press his counterpart in the Sen-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The ate, did not shut down the
White House is giving all idea of the chamber taking
federal agencies 30 days to up a proposal that would
wipe TikTok off all govern- empower Biden to take ac-
ment devices, as the Chi- tion against TikTok, saying it
nese-owned social media was “certainly something
app comes under increas- to consider.”
ing scrutiny in Washington Oberwetter said: “We
over security concerns. hope that when it comes
The Office of Management to addressing national se-
and Budget calls the guid- curity concerns about Tik-
ance, issued Monday, a Tok beyond government
“critical step forward in devices, Congress will ex-
addressing the risks pre- plore solutions that won’t
sented by the app to sen- have the effect of censor-
sitive government data.” ing the voices of millions of
Some agencies, including Americans.” TikTok, owned
the Departments of De- by ByteDance Ltd., remains
fense, Homeland Security extremely popular and is
and State, already have used by two-thirds of teens
restrictions in place; the in the U.S. But there is in-
guidance calls on the rest The TikTok logo is seen on a cell phone on Oct. 14, 2022, in Boston. creasing concern that Bei-
of the federal government Associated Press jing could obtain control of
to follow suit within 30 days. The guidance was first re- world governments. These tions that threaten national American user data that
The White House already ported by Reuters. bans are little more than security. McCaul, the chair- the app has obtained.
does not allow TikTok on its Congress passed the “No political theater.” man of the House Foreign The company has been dis-
devices. TikTok on Government De- House Republicans are Relations Committee, has missive of the ban for fed-
“The Biden-Harris Adminis- vices Act” in December as expected to move for- been a vocal critic of the eral devices and has noted
tration has invested heavily part of a sweeping govern- ward Tuesday with a bill app, saying it is being used that it is developing security
in defending our nation’s ment funding package. that would give Biden the by the Chinese Commu- and data privacy plans as
digital infrastructure and The legislation does allow power to ban TikTok na- nist Party to “manipulate part of the Biden adminis-
curbing foreign adversar- for TikTok use in certain cas- tionwide. The legislation, and monitor its users while tration’s ongoing national
ies’ access to Americans’ es, including for national proposed by Rep. Mike it gobbles up Americans’ security review.
data,” said Chris DeRusha, security, law enforcement McCaul, looks to circum- data to be used for their Canada also announced
the federal chief informa- and research purposes. vent the challenges the malign activities.” Monday that it is banning
tion security officer. “This TikTok spokesperson Brooke administration would face “Anyone with TikTok down- TikTok from all government-
guidance is part of the Oberwetter said Monday: in court if it moved forward loaded on their device has issued mobile devices. The
Administration’s ongoing “The ban of TikTok on fed- with sanctions against the given the CCP a backdoor European Union’s execu-
commitment to securing eral devices passed in De- social media company. to all their personal infor- tive branch said last week
our digital infrastructure cember without any delib- If passed, the proposal mation. It’s a spy balloon it has temporarily banned
and protecting the Ameri- eration, and unfortunately would allow the administra- into your phone,” the Texas TikTok from phones used by
can people’s security and that approach has served tion to ban not only TikTok Republican said in a state- employees as a cybersecu-
privacy.” as a blueprint for other but any software applica- ment Monday. rity measure.q

Elizabeth Holmes has 2nd child as she

tries to avoid prison

ond child was confirmed been delayed so Holmes hasn’t issued a ruling yet.
in court documents filed could give birth to her first Holmes isn’t citing her two
last week in advance of a child, a son. Holmes had children as the only reason
March 17 hearing about both children with her cur- she should be allowed to
her bid to remain free dur- rent partner, William “Billy” stay out of prison during her
ing an appeals process Evans. She met Evans after appeal.
that could take years to her 2016 break-up with her Her lawyers contend that
complete. former lover and business an array of mistakes and
The filing didn’t disclose partner, Ramesh “Sunny” abuses made during her
the date of the birth or Balwani, who was convict- trial make it likely her con-
Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes, center, walks into the child’s gender, but ed on 12 counts of fraud viction will be overturned,
federal court in San Jose, Calif., Nov. 18, 2022. the news isn’t a surprise. and conspiracy in a sepa- They are also pointing to
Associated Press Holmes, 38, was pregnant rate trial. Holmes’ unblemished re-
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Dis- sentence while her lawyers at the time of her Nov. 18 Balwani, 57, is also trying to cord while she has been
graced Theranos CEO Eliz- appeal her conviction for sentencing in the same San convince U.S. District Judge free on bail during the
abeth Holmes is citing her duping investors about the Jose, California, courtroom Edward Davila to delay the four-and-half years since
recently born child as an- capabilities of her failed where a jury convicted her start of his nearly 13-year her criminal indictment as
other reason she should be company’s blood-testing on four felony counts of prison sentence. A hearing evidence that she isn’t a
allowed to delay the start of technology. fraud and conspiracy. on his request was held ear- flight risk or a danger to the
a more than 11-year prison The birth of Holmes’ sec- The start of that trial had lier this month, but Davila community.q