Pursuant to UT System’s UTS 200 Prohibited Technology and Covered Applications Policy and UTS 165 Information Resources Use and Security Policy, it is the policy of The University of Texas at Austin to manage risks to and safeguard the university’s resources from threats posed by malware and other cyber threats. Malware includes software that intercepts information and delivers it to a third party without authorization.
On December 7, 2022, Governor Greg Abbott required all state agencies to ban the video-sharing application TikTok from all state-owned and state-issued devices and networks over the Chinese Communist Party’s ability to use the application for surveilling Texans. Governor Abbott also directed the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR) to develop a plan providing state agencies guidance on managing personal devices used to conduct state business. On February 14, 2023, The University of Texas Office of General Counsel issued The University of Texas System’s Prohibited Technologies Security Policy. Following the issuance of the Governor’s directive and the Prohibited Technology Policy, the 88th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1893, which prohibits the use of covered applications on governmental entity devices.
In accordance with SB 1893, UTS 200, UTS 165, Governor Greg Abbott’s letter of Dec. 7, 2022, all university employees may not install or operate TikTok or other prohibited technologies on all state-issued devices (including university-owned cell phones, laptops, tablets and desktop computers) or on any personal device that is used to conduct state business, which includes using the device to access any state-owned data, applications, email accounts, non-public facing communications, state email, VoIP, SMS, video conferencing, CAPPS, Texas.gov, and any other state databases or applications.
Failure to comply with these directives would be a violation of Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP) 2-2320 for faculty and 5-2420 for staff, and the Information Security Acceptable Use Policy for students.