Effective July 1, 2023 – A new Commonwealth of Virginia law prohibits access to specific apps on state-owned or managed resources.
Due to a recently enacted law in the Commonwealth of Virginia (legp604.exe (virginia.gov)), as of Saturday, July 1, 2023, TikTok, WeChat, and several other social platforms operated by ByteDance, Ltd. and Tencent will no longer be permitted on Commonwealth- or university-owned equipment and internet networks.
Platforms and Equipment Affected
ByteDance applications affected include TikTok, Capcut, Hypic, and Ulike. Tencent applications include WeChat, WeCom, Tencent QQ, QQmail, Tencent Video, and Tencent Music. Commonwealth- and university-owned equipment includes mobile phones, desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets, and other devices capable of connecting to the internet.
Removal of Apps
TikTok, WeChat, and the other platforms listed above must be removed from all university-owned devices by July 1, 2025.
Internet Networks
All employees and contractors will not be permitted to use university Wi-Fi or wired networks to access these platforms, although students will not be subject to this restriction.
Questions
These new requirements are reflected in University Policy Number 1301: Responsible Use of Computing.
At-a-glance summary of restrictions
| Network Connection / Work Type | George Mason Owned or Issued Device | Personal Device |
|---|---|---|
| On George Mason network doing university work | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| On George Mason network but doing personal business | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| On personal/outside network doing university work | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| On personal/outside network doing personal business | Not allowed | Allowed |
Related FAQs
Why is George Mason doing this?
The Virginia General Assembly passed a new law earlier in 2023 that requires all state-affiliated entities – of which George Mason University is one – to stop using TikTok and other applications developed by ByteDance and Tencent on state-issued devices or state-maintained networks. The governor signed the bill in April. The restriction takes effect on July 1, 2023.
I have a personal TikTok account. Can I still use it after July 1?
You can still access and use TikTok after July 1, provided that these three requirements are met:
- You are not using the account for George Mason-related work.
- The app is on a device you own.
- You are using a personal or cellular network that is not owned or managed by a state agency.
I manage a TikTok account for my (college/unit/department/office) at George Mason. Can I continue to post to it after July 1?
No.
Should I delete my college/unit/department/office TikTok account?
At this point, we do not recommend that users delete college/unit accounts, as this leaves former accounts vulnerable to spoofing. Just don’t post to them after July 1. Apps should be removed from all university-owned devices.
Do I have to delete my personal account?
No. But you must not access TikTok or other restricted apps from a university-issued device or on the university network.
I’m a student in a residence hall – can I use TikTok in the evenings?
The wired network in the residence halls is not maintained or managed by George Mason. As a student using your own personal device on this network, you can use these apps at any time; however, you must not access them over eduroam or any university-maintained network, including the Wi-fi.
I’m an international student and use WeChat to communicate with my family and friends back home. Can I continue to do that after July 1?
Yes. You are not prohibited from using WeChat on a personal device with a personal data plan. However, you must not use the application over the George Mason network.
How will this be enforced?
Effective July 1, 2023, use of these applications over the university network, on a university-owned device, and/or for university business is a violation of University Policy Number 1301: Responsible Use of Computing. Violation of this policy is subject to student conduct action for students and personnel actions for employees.
Thanks for reviewing this information. If you have any questions, please contact ITS Support at 703-993-8870.