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UT-Austin blocks access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks

texastribune.org

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Re: UT-Austin blocks access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks

#41

Post by LarryMullins »

BudaDude wrote: post #21
tarotuser wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can say "Use a VPN"... However on multiple VPN providers, Tiktok blocks those endpoints. Instead of the Tiktok feed, you get a rude 403 error for any page. Tiktok really REALLY wants to know your real IP address. (edit: this comment pertains to the web page through a browser, not the Tiktok app. I did not test the app+vpn.)

Those endpoints could also be blocked for legitimate reasons. Many use common VPN endpoints for malicious intentions.

The "legitimate reason" is that knowing information about their users is TikTok's business model.

Re: UT-Austin blocks access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks

#43

Post by remarkEon »

throwaway29812 wrote: post #37
remarkEon wrote: post #2

>"We're disappointed that so many states are jumping on the political bandwagon to enact policies that will do nothing to advance cybersecurity in their states and are based on unfounded falsehoods about TikTok," spokesperson Jamal Brown wrote. "We're especially sorry to see the unintended consequences of these rushed policies beginning to impact universities' ability to share information, recruit students, and build…

Quite incredible he can go from DoD spokesperson to working at TikTok. I guess there's no law against it, but incredible personal choice.

Everyone has a price, and I assume Bytedance knows how valuable having a former DoD spokesman as their PR guy is - especially in this new environment of geopolitical realism. Whatever that price was, I think it's safe to assume it was met.

Re: UT-Austin blocks access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks

#44

Post by AdmiralAsshat »

guessbest wrote: post #15

> In a statement, a representative from TikTok said they are disappointed by the news. > "We're disappointed that so many states are jumping on the political bandwagon to enact policies that will do nothing to advance cybersecurity in their states and are based on unfounded falsehoods about TikTok," spokesperson Jamal Brown wrote. Regardless of you stance on Texas and Texans and politics, the above is a pretty funny…

Obviously someone should've just hosted right-wing talking heads on TikTok so that UT-Austin could be sued under Texas' own anti-censorship law:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/09/texas-bans-onlin...

Re: UT-Austin blocks access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks

#45

Post by verdverm »

zugi wrote: post #22

Banning the app on government (including university) devices is one thing. Blocking the website is another. Perhaps someone who sets UT policies doesn't understand the difference?

Governments and businesses block sites on their network all the time for a variety of reasons. This is just adding an entry to a list. They block ports and bandwidth shape as well

Re: UT-Austin blocks access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks

#46

Post by dylan604 »

kube-system wrote: post #9
mybhslaptop wrote: post #3

High schoolers are used to having VPNs for school, time for college students to do that too. Especially since on-campus students have to live with managed WiFi in dorms too. It's unfortunate to see this political censorship affect grown adults who can make their own decisions - but just happen to be at a state university.

Or they can just toggle the wifi on their phone. When I was in school, wifi wasn't provided and you were prohibited from bringing your own AP. And there were plenty of applications being firewalled.

I was wondering if LTE was also blocked for some reason causing everyone that be forced to use WiFi. Clearly, that's not the case. Are people unable to make the logical jump that WiFi isn't needed on mobile?

Even so, that still meet's whatever UT's goal is that it's not on their network.

Edit: clearly, the sarcasm intended in wondering if someone was blocking LTE wasn't self-evident. Followed immediately by "Clearly not the case" should have been a clear indicator that it was a bit rhetorical and not something truly being considered.

Re: UT-Austin blocks access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi networks

#50

Post by netsharc »

tarotuser wrote: post #11
mybhslaptop wrote: post #3

High schoolers are used to having VPNs for school, time for college students to do that too. Especially since on-campus students have to live with managed WiFi in dorms too. It's unfortunate to see this political censorship affect grown adults who can make their own decisions - but just happen to be at a state university.

You can say "Use a VPN"... However on multiple VPN providers, Tiktok blocks those endpoints. Instead of the Tiktok feed, you get a rude 403 error for any page. Tiktok really REALLY wants to know your real IP address. (edit: this comment pertains to the web page through a browser, not the Tiktok app. I did not test the app+vpn.)

Huh, the app is already on your phone, if it wants to know your location, it can already do that. If it wants to know the ISP, it's also probably quite easy...
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