TikTok use across all government-connected devices prohibited in new interim rule

FedScoop reports that a new interim rule prohibiting the use of TikTok across all government employees' and contractors' devices has been released by the Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Such a rule is applicable for any contract solicitations issued by the agencies on or after June 2, while all solicitations given before June 2 but awarded later must be changed to be in compliance with the rule by July 3. "The rule revises the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the prohibition on having or using the social networking service TikTok or any successor application or service developed or provided by ByteDance Limited or an entity owned by ByteDance Limited ("covered application")," noted the rule's listing in the Federal Register. The rule comes after the Office of Management and Budget's memo in February ordering the removal of TikTok across all federal agency devices within 30 days.