TikTok and UK Researcher Impact

On June 2, 2023, the federal government issued an interim Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR 52.204-27 Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application) prohibiting the use of TikTok or other ByteDance applications on information technology used in the performance of a federal contract.

• The rule applies to federal contracts awarded or modified on or after June 2, 2023. The new FAR language will appear in individual contracts.

• Information technology includes those owned by the Government, owned by a contractor (e.g. University of Kentucky) or owned by the employee (personal devices).

• UK faculty, staff and students must not install or access via the internet TikTok or any other ByteDance Ltd. products on any device used to perform work related to federal contracts.

• Performing work on a federal contract may include activities such as collecting, storing or analyzing data, receiving/sending email, and/or viewing documents specific to the contract.

• When a final ruling is issued, some details may be clarified or changed, at which point guidance will be updated.

Learn more at our resource website.