Court rulings or legal documentation

Biden Administration Exempts State Department's Public Diplomacy from TikTok Ban Amid First Amendment Concerns

Jan 14, 2025, 08:55 PM

The Biden administration has introduced a loophole in the proposed TikTok ban, allowing certain U.S. State Department employees involved in public diplomacy to continue using the platform. This exemption was detailed in an internal cable signed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, which was leaked to journalist Ken Klippenstein. The cable specifies that these employees are exempt from the ban 'regardless of any potential failure of TikTok to be divested of its foreign PRC [People’s Republic of China] ownership.' This move comes amidst ongoing legal challenges by TikTok against the ban, arguing it violates the First Amendment. The administration's decision to allow government use of TikTok for public diplomacy, while seeking to ban it for the general public, highlights a contradiction in policy, as the platform is seen as a critical tool for reaching young audiences globally.