The policy complies with Texas Senate Bill 1893, passed in 2023, which requires state and local governments to pass a policy prohibiting the installation or use of specific apps.
The policy is aimed at TikTok in this situation, but other apps could be considered in the future, according to agenda documents.
Neighboring Liberty Hill recently passed similar legislation.
The full story
SB 1893 came after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the app removed from government devices in the state over concerns the Chinese government could use the app to surveil Texans.
The policy applies to all city of Leander full- and part-time employees, contractors, paid or unpaid interns, and any other user of government networks. The ban also covers any app owned by TikTok’s parent company, Bytedance Limited.
Additionally, the policy would apply to any other app the city’s information security officer deems necessary or any app the governor specifies by proclamation.
What else?
There is a section in Leander’s policy, similar to Liberty Hill’s, which says the city can consider prohibiting the app on employee-owned devices used to conduct government business.
There are specific instances in which the use of the app is permitted by the city, but those are largely limited to law enforcement uses, and specific safety measures would have to be taken to mitigate any risk to the state.
TikTok has been blocked on city government devices in Leander since June 2023 when SB 1893 took effect, but the newly passed policy formalizes procedures the city has followed since the legislation went into effect, according to agenda documents.
