The President of the United States is exercising his constitutional authority to ensure national security by applying the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFCOA) to TikTok, a social media platform owned by ByteDance Ltd., a China-based company. Section 1 of the order confirms that TikTok is a foreign adversary controlled application subject to the PAFCOA due to national security concerns. The President intends to consult with his advisors and review sensitive intelligence on the matter before taking any further action.
The President has instructed the Attorney General not to take any enforcement action against TikTok for 75 days from the date of the order, allowing his administration an opportunity to assess the situation and develop a resolution that balances national security concerns with the platform’s importance to American users. The order also directs the Attorney General to issue written guidance on implementing the PAFCOA provisions and to notify providers that there has been no violation of the statute during the specified period.