TikTok FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions for OMB-M-23-13 - Prohibition on ByteDance Covered Applications (TikTok & Lark)
The federal government has restricted the use of ByteDance (TikTok & Lark) Social Networking Services in federal contracts. Under this Act, Stanford personnel who work on federal contracts or other agreements specifically identified by the government, including faculty, postdocs, employees, and graduate students, are prohibited from downloading or using TikTok or Lark on any information technology (including personal equipment) – laptops, cell phones, software, and firmware – used in the performance of a federal government contract or other agreements specifically identified by the government.
- What do faculty and staff need to do to comply with the restrictions?
- Who is responsible for ensuring that TikTok and other prohibited applications are not being accessed on devices used in the performance of federal contracts or other agreements specifically identified by the government.?
- How do I know if the federal project(s) which I am working on are federal contracts or other agreements specifically identified by the government that are subject to these restrictions?
- Can I check emails regarding the federal contract or other agreements specifically identified by the government on my personal device? I want to comply with the rule but am not sure what “used in the performance of a federal government contract or other agreements specifically identified by the government” means.
- If someone sends me a TikTok via text, email, or through another non-covered app like Facebook Reels, can I watch it even if I don’t have a TikTok account or the app on my device?
- I am a faculty member who does not use my personal phone for any work on my federal contracts or other agreements specifically identified by the government - can I keep TikTok on my phone?
- Will Stanford be blocking TikTok on campus?
- I still have questions about the No TikTok on Government Device Act. Who can I contact for additional information?
Q1: What do faculty and staff need to do to comply with the restrictions?
A1:
- Do not download/use TikTok on government or university-issued equipment, or personal devices used in the performance of federal contracts or other agreements specifically identified by the government, including federal research contracts and service agreements.
- If you have TikTok already installed on devices you use in support of federal contracts, please delete.
Q2: Who is responsible for ensuring that TikTok and other prohibited applications are not being accessed on devices used in the performance of federal contracts or other agreements specifically identified by the government.?
A2: The Principal Investigator on federal contracts is responsible for complying, and ensuring those working on their project are compliant as described in the Informed Participation Acknowledgement and Certification signed by the Principal Investigator and each contract personnel.
Q3: How do I know if the federal project(s) which I am working on are federal contracts or other agreements specifically identified by the government that are subject to these restrictions?
A3: The Principal Investigator has the responsibility for notifying all personnel for federal contracts or other agreements specifically identified by the government that their contract is subject to FAR 52.204-27 and therefore, subject to these restrictions. The PI is also responsible for collecting a signed copy of Informed Participation Acknowledgement and Certification from each contract personnel. When in doubt, please check with your PI.
Q4: Can I check emails regarding the federal contract or other agreements specifically identified by the government on my personal device? I want to comply with the rule but am not sure what “used in the performance of a federal government contract or other agreements specifically identified by the government” means.
A4: No, if you are using your personal device in the performance of a federal contract or other agreement specifically identified by the government that is subject to the TikTok ban, then you should not have the TikTok app or any ByteDance product on your personal device. This includes checking work-related emails, collecting, storing, or analyzing data, calendaring, and/or viewing documents specific to the federal contract or other agreement specifically identified by the government.
Q5: If someone sends me a TikTok via text, email, or through another non-covered app like Facebook Reels, can I watch it even if I don’t have a TikTok account or the app on my device?
A5: If the device that you are using is used to perform work on a federal contract or other agreement specifically identified by the government that is subject to this ban, you cannot access TikTok or any Bytedance product regardless of how it is accessed, including text, email, web browser, or app.
Q6: I am a faculty member who does not use my personal phone for any work on my federal contracts or other agreements specifically identified by the government - can I keep TikTok on my phone?
A6: Yes, if you do not use your personal device in the performance of your federal contracts and/or other agreements specifically identified by the government, you do not have to delete TikTok
Q7: Will Stanford be blocking TikTok on campus?
A7: No, not at this time. Stanford is unwaveringly committed to academic freedom and freedom of expression and inquiry. These prohibitions that we have set forth are in accordance with government requirements
Q8: I still have questions about the No TikTok on Government Device Act. Who can I contact for additional information?
A8: If you have any questions, please contact prohibitedcomponents@stanford.edu.