Regarding the Acquisition of Musical.ly by ByteDance Ltd.
ByteDance Must Divest U.S. TikTok Assets and Data
What it does
The order directs the committee that reviews foreign investments to require ByteDance to divest U.S. TikTok assets and user data and certify their destruction.
Real-world impact
- Forces ByteDance to sell or remove U.S. TikTok operations within 90 days.
- Requires destruction and certification of all U.S. TikTok user data.
- Gives U.S. government reviewers access to company records, systems, and staff.
Topics
Summary
This order prohibits ByteDance’s ownership of the TikTok app’s U.S. operations and requires ByteDance to divest all assets and U.S. user data used to operate TikTok in the United States, generally within 90 days (with a possible 30-day extension) under conditions set by the committee that reviews foreign investments.
It applies to ByteDance, its subsidiaries, affiliates, Chinese shareholders, TikTok Inc., and potential buyers, who must provide weekly progress reports and follow notification rules before any sale.
The stated purpose is to protect U.S. national security; the committee and U.S. government may inspect records and systems to verify compliance.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”