Pursuant to UT System’s 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.
In accordance with UTS 165 and Governor Greg Abbott’s letter of Dec. 7, 2022 directing all state agencies to ban their officers and employees from installing or using TikTok on state-issued devices, all university employees must immediately remove TikTok from all state-issued devices (including university-owned cell phones, laptops, tablets and desktop computers) in their care, custody, or control. If you have not yet removed TikTok from all such devices, please do so immediately. Further, do not install TikTok on any state-issued device. 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.
The governor’s letter also calls for regulating the use of TikTok on personal devices of state employees and those who do business with state agencies. We expect further guidance about personal devices prior to Feb. 15.
A notification was sent to all UT faculty, staff and student employees on December 16, 2022.