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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 7 december 2022

Maryland governor bans TikTok in state government

By BRIAN WITTE, SCOTT BAU- Rubio, of Florida, in writing
ER and JAMES POLLARD an opinion piece calling for
Associated Press governments to ban TikTok.
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (AP) Evers’ spokesperson Britt
— Maryland is banning the Cudaback said the admin-
use of TikTok and certain istration takes cybersecurity
China and Russia-based threats “very seriously” and
platforms in the state’s ex- regularly consults with the
ecutive branch of govern- U.S. Department of Home-
ment, Gov. Larry Hogan land Security, the FBI, and
said Tuesday, citing an un- counterintelligence spe-
acceptable cybersecurity cialists when making deci-
risk to the state. sions about state govern-
The Republican governor ment devices.
announced an emergen- “We will continue to defer
cy cybersecurity directive to the judgment and ad-
to prohibit to prohibit the vice of law enforcement,
use of the platforms, say- cybersecurity, and coun-
ing they may be involved terintelligence experts
in cyber-espionage, surveil- regarding this and other
lance of government enti- evolving cybersecurity is-
ties and inappropriate col- Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers makes his acceptance speech on Nov. 9, 2022, in Madison, sues,” Cudaback said.
lection of sensitive personal Wis., after winning the governorship election. Earlier, on Twitter, Cuda-
information. Associated Press back faulted Republicans
Under the directive, state TikTok from all state govern- creasing traction in conser- app. for not speaking directly
agencies must remove ment devices, calling it a vative circles. “Wisconsinites expect their with the governor about
any of these products from national security threat. A researcher with the con- governor to be aware of their request.
state networks. Agencies The request comes a week servative Heritage Foun- the dangerous national se- “My favorite part about
also are required to imple- after South Dakota Gov. dation last month called curity threats TikTok poses Wisconsin Republicans’
ment measures to prevent Kristi Noem, a Republican, on government officials to and to protect them from (tilde)we want to work
installation of these prod- banned state employees ban TikTok from operating this avenue for CCP intel- together(tilde) narrative
ucts, and put in place net- and contractors from ac- entirely in the United States. ligence operations,” said is when they send a for-
work-based restrictions to cessing TikTok on state- And last week, FBI Director the letter signed by U.S. mal, three-page letter that
prevent the use of, or ac- owned devices, citing its Chris Wray said China could Sen. Ron Johnson and could’ve been a phone
cess to, prohibited services. ties to China. South Caro- use the app to collect data U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher, call just so they leak to press
Wisconsin’s Republican lina Gov. Henry McMaster, on its users that could be Tom Tiffany, Glenn Groth- and get stories like this,”
representatives in Congress also a Republican, on Mon- used for traditional espio- man, Bryan Steil and Scott she said in reference to a
on Tuesday called on Dem- day banned TikTok from all nage operations as part of Fitzgerald. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
ocratic Gov. Tony Evers to state government devices. his growing warnings about Gallagher last month story, which first reported
delete the video platform The issue has gained in- the popular video sharing joined with U.S. Sen. Marco on the letter.q

COVID’s lingering impact prompts Real ID deadline extension

By JIM SALTER lease. “DHS will also use this public can travel safely.” license offices. Because of umentary evidence and
Associated Press time to implement innova- People are getting compli- the backlogs, many state record checks to ensure a
The deadline for obtain- tions to make the process ant IDs as they renew driv- agencies that issue driver’s person is who they claim to
ing the Real ID needed to more efficient and acces- er’s licenses, but DHS said licenses automatically ex- be. Enforcement has been
board a domestic flight has sible. We will continue to the pandemic resulted in tended expiration dates delayed several times since
been pushed back again, ensure that the American backlogs at state driver’s on licenses and ID cards, the original 2008 deadline.
with the Department of rather than issuing licenses Most recently, in April 2021,
Homeland Security citing and cards compliant with DHS extended the dead-
the lingering impact of the the Real ID requirement. line to May 2023, also cit-
COVID-19 pandemic for After the May 2025 dead- ing how COVID-19 made
the slower-than-expected line, domestic travelers 18 it harder for states to issue
rollout. The deadline to and older on commercial new licenses. DHS said in
have a Real ID had been flights must have a Real ID- 2021 that only 43% of state-
May 3, 2023, but DHS an- compliant driver’s license issued driver’s licenses and
nounced Monday that or state photo ID identifica- ID cards were considered
it was pushed back two tion card. Real ID also will Real ID-compliant.
years, to May 7, 2025. be required to enter some All 50 states, the District of
“This extension will give federal facilities such as mil- Columbia and four of the
states needed time to en- itary bases.The Real ID law five U.S. territories covered
sure their residents can ob- was passed by Congress in by the Real ID Act are issu-
tain a REAL ID-compliant 2005 on a recommendation ing Real ID-compliant driv-
license or identification A sample copy of a Washington driver license is shown at the from the 9/11 Commission. er’s licenses and ID cards.
card,” Homeland Secu- Washington state Department of Licensing office in Lacey, The new form of ID incor- DHS said American Samoa
rity Secretary Alejandro N. Wash., on June 22, 2018. porates anti-counterfeiting is under review for Real ID
Mayorkas said in a news re- Associated Press technology and uses doc- enforcement.q