Georgetown ISD-issued devices are no longer allowed to host any apps owned by ByteDance, the China-based owner of apps TikTok and Lemon8, after trustees approved a policy update barring the use of the apps on devices like those issued to students and teachers.

What you need to know

The policy approved as part of the board's consent agenda Nov. 18 outlines how the district will prevent apps owned by ByteDance, as well as any other covered applications identified from the state, from being downloaded to devices owned by GISD and issued to students or employees:

• Prohibiting the installation and use of such apps, mandating their removal
• Identifying, tracking and managing devices to complete removal of these apps

The district will also take additional steps to prevent access to these apps on its devices, per policy documents:

• Restricting access to app stores and other sources of unauthorized software
• Maintain ability to remotely uninstall apps barred under this policy
• Maintain the ability to remotely wipe devices

As the item was included as part of the board's consent agenda, trustees did not discuss the measure ahead of approval.

How we got here

The policy documents included in the board agenda for Nov. 18 state that the policy is a result of a December 2022 order from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to ban TikTok from all state-issued devices and networks. Per the policy, the governor directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to create a plan to provide state agencies, such as school districts, with guidance on managing personal devices used to conduct official state business.

The reasoning cited is that officials have concerns about the privacy of Texans using the apps, especially if they are on devices used to conduct official business.

What's next?

The documents also state that the district might consider prohibiting employees from installing TikTok on personal devices intended to be used to conduct school business under GISD's bring-your-own-device program.