Thune wants IRS staff to stop using personal devices for TikTok.

Senate Republican Whip John Thune of South Dakota is taking action to safeguard taxpayer information by restricting the IRS’s use of a program that allows employees to work from personal devices. This decision comes in light of a recent government report revealing the agency’s failure to fully comply with the ban on TikTok on federal devices.

Thune, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS, introduced the Ensuring No Devices Bear Your Own Data (END BYOD) Act to prevent IRS staff participating in the program from accessing, processing, transmitting, or storing any taxpayer information on their personal devices.

In December 2023, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration disclosed that the IRS had not updated its Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies to adhere to Office of Management and Budget guidance regarding the elimination of TikTok on devices within the stipulated timeline. Federal agencies and contractors were given specific deadlines to remove TikTok from their devices, but the IRS fell short of compliance.

Subsequently, Thune and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee sought clarification from IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel regarding the agency’s noncompliance with the ban on TikTok. The senators raised concerns about the potential compromise of confidential taxpayer information stored on devices that have TikTok, a platform closely linked to the Chinese Communist Party and concerning data practices.

Thune’s bill aims to prevent IRS employees, volunteers, and contractors involved in the BYOD program from handling sensitive taxpayer data on personal devices with TikTok access. The measure garnered support from Blackburn, as well as Senators Bill Cassidy, Steve Daines, and Thom Tillis.

Concerns over TikTok’s ownership by Chinese company Bytedance, which could be compelled to share data under Chinese law, have prompted bipartisan scrutiny among lawmakers. This led to the passage of legislation requiring TikTok to divest from Bytedance as part of a foreign aid package supporting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. President Biden signed the bill into law, giving TikTok a timeframe to divest from China or face a ban in the U.S.

Thune’s proactive approach underscores the importance of data security and safeguarding taxpayer information against potential risks associated with personal device usage within government agencies. By addressing gaps in compliance and advocating for stringent measures, Thune is committed to upholding transparency and accountability within the IRS.

As the issue of data privacy and national security continues to evolve, legislative initiatives like the END BYOD Act serve as critical safeguards to protect sensitive information and uphold public trust in government institutions.

Overall, Thune’s efforts highlight the ongoing need for vigilant oversight and proactive measures to mitigate risks posed by emerging technologies and ensure the integrity of data handling practices within federal agencies.