DateIssued:March19,2025
Topic:NationalSecurity,Technology
WHATDOESTHISEXECUTIVEORDERDO?
Thisexecutiveorderextendstheenforcementdelayspecifiedin ExecutiveOrder14166,ApplicationOfProtectingAmericansFromForeign AdversaryControlledApplicationsActToTikTok,untilJune19,2025.
Atpresent,thisordersuggeststhatnoactionshallbetakentobanTikTok oraffiliatedplatformshousedundertheChinabasedparentcompany, ByteDanceLtd.,intheUnitedStatesbeforethelisteddateofJune19, 2025.
TheorderalsoprohibitstheDepartmentofJusticefromtakingany actiontoenforcetheactorimposeanypenaltiesagainstanyentityfor conductoccurringduringthespecifiedperiod.
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
TheorderconferssoleauthoritytotheAttorneyGeneraltoinvestigateand enforcetheactasarepresentativeofthe“powersoftheExecutive,”while prohibitinganyattemptedenforcementbyStatesorprivateparties.
TheAttorneyGeneralmustprovidewrittenguidanceforimplementingthis order.Theymustalsoissuealettertoprovidersconfirmingtherehasbeen noviolationofthestatute.Hostingsitesandaffiliatecompaniesarenot liableforanyconductoccurringduringthespecifiedperiod.
Lastly,theorderdirectstheAttorneyGeneraltoexercisetheirgiven authorityto“preserveanddefendtheExecutive’sexclusiveauthorityto enforcetheAct.”
Ofimportancetonote,theinitialorderdelayedtheimplementationofthe ProtectingAmericansfromForeignAdversaryControlledApplicationsAct, whichCongressenactedin2024withbipartisansupport.However, becausethelawdoesnotappeartogranttheexecutivebranchauthority toalterordelayitstimelineonceenacted,criticshavequestionedthe legalityofusinganexecutiveordertodelayorsuspendalawpassedby thelegislativebranch.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
AccordingtoPewResearch,about28%ofBlackteensreportusingTikTok “almostconstantly.”Additionally,Blackusersmakeupapproximately16% ofTikTokuserswhoregularlygetnewsfromtheplatform,surpassingtheir shareofthegeneralU.S.population(12%).Thisoverrepresentation suggeststhataTikTokbancoulddisproportionatelyaffectBlack communities,particularlyintermsofaccesstoinformation,culture,and connection.
TikTokhasbeenaninstrumentaltoolforBlackbusinessowners.Asurvey reportfromOxfordEconomics,inpartnershipwithTikTok,indicatedthat 83%ofAfricanAmericansmallormidsizedbusinessownersreported seeingtheirsalesincreaseafterpromotingtheirproductorserviceon TikTok.Additionally,57%ofAfricanAmericanrespondentssaidthatTikTok iscriticaltotheirbusiness’sexistence.Theapphasprovidedsmall businesseswithaccesstoaudienceswithoutthesubstantivemarketing budgetthattraditionalmediarequires.ExtendingthedelaytotheTikTok banallowssmallBlack-ownedbusinessesandcreatorstocontinue leveragingtheappforeconomicopportunity.
TikTokhasalsobeenasiteforculturalexpressionandeducationforBlack communities.Hashtagssuchas#HillmanTokareindicativeoftheapp’s capacitytoserveasaspaceforamoredemocratizededucation,with Blackscholarscrowdsourcingandsharingtheirexpertiseinamyriadof subjects,includingsomethatthecurrentadministrationisworkingtoban fromuniversitiesandschoolcurricula.Whatstartedasahashtaghas becomeamovementforpreservingBlackhistoryandhighlightingthe importanceofinclusiveeducation.Recently,HillmanTokinstructorsmet withlawmakers,includingSen.RaphaelWarnockandRep.Jasmine Crockett,inaneventtobringawarenesstothegrassrootsmovement.
ThecontinuedthreatofaTikTokbanleavesmanyBlackcontentcreators inaprecariouspositionastheyawaitpotentialdisruptionstotheir livelihoodsandaccesstothecommunitiesthey’vebuiltontheplatform.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
MembersoftheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)haveurgedtheexecutive branchtoworkwithCongresstofindaresolutionthatwouldkeepTikTok onlineintheU.S.AstheAprildeadlineapproached,Sen.Booker,alongwith otherDemocrats,issuedastatement.
Sen.CoryBooker:“WithoutanyfurtheractionfromCongress,the170 millionAmericansthatrelyonTikTokwillcontinuetofaceuncertainty aboutTikTok’sfuture.Creatorswillcontinuetofearthattheplatformcould disappearatanymoment.Thissituationisunfairandunworkable.We urgeyoutostandupforTikTok’susersanduseyourimmenseinfluence overcongressionalRepublicanstodemandalong-termsolutiontothe TikTokban.”FullStatement
Therecentstatementisapartofabroader,ongoingeffortbyBookerand otherSenateDemocrats.OnJanuary16,2025,Sen.CoryBooker, alongsideotherCongressmembers,issuedalettertoPresidentJoeBiden urginghimtodelaytheenforcementoftheban.Additionally,they introducedtheExtendtheTikTokDeadlineAct,whichwouldhavedelayed theinitialJanuary19thdeadlinebywhichByteDancewasrequiredtosell TikTok.
Lastyear,Rep.MaxwellFrostissuedastatementexpressinghisconcern aboutapotentialbanonTikTok. “Let’sbeclearthatIamdeeply concernedaboutourforeignadversariesaccessingourprivatedata online,butthisbillisnotthecomprehensivereformweneedtoreigninBig TechandprotectAmericansfromharmandmanipulation.”Full Statement