Title: Block the Tok Act
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
Block the Tok Act
This bill prohibits the social media application TikTok from accessing user data of U.S. citizens from within China, and it requires the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether TikTok has engaged in unfair or deceptive practices.
The bill also prohibits the download or use of TikTok at U.S. military installations, at certain federal agencies, and on federal government devices.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8772 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8772

  To establish certain requirements relating to TikTok, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 6, 2022

  Mr. Johnson of South Dakota (for himself, Mr. Norman, and Mr. Mast) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
    Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Armed 
  Services, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish certain requirements relating to TikTok, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Block the Tok Act''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON THE ACCESS OF USER DATA OF UNITED STATES 
              CITIZENS.

    TikTok may not access user data of United States citizens from 
within the People's Republic of China.

SEC. 3. INVESTIGATION BY COMMISSION.

    (a) Investigation.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall initiate an investigation 
to determine if TikTok has engaged in unfair or deceptive acts or 
practices within the meaning of section 5(a)(1) of the Federal Trade 
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1)).
    (b) Complaint.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which the 
Commission completes the investigation described in subsection (a), if 
the Commission determines TikTok has engaged in unfair or deceptive 
acts or practices within the meaning of section 5(a)(1) of the Federal 
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1)) and if the Commission 
determines that a proceeding by the Commission would be in the interest 
of the public, the Commission shall issue and serve upon TikTok a 
complaint stating the charges that contains a notice of a hearing on a 
fixed date and place at least thirty days after the date on which the 
complaint is served.

SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF TIKTOK AT MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND 
              FEDERAL AGENCIES.

    (a) Prohibition.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act--
            (1) TikTok may not be downloaded or used on a personal 
        electronic device at a military installation or a Federal 
        agency; and
            (2) TikTok, if on a personal electronic device at a 
        military installation or a Federal agency on the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, shall be removed from the personal 
        electronic device.
    (b) Exception.--The head of the relevant Federal agency may 
authorize an exception to the prohibition described in subsection (a).

SEC. 5. PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF TIKTOK ON FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEVICES.

    (a) Prohibition.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act--
            (1) TikTok may not be downloaded or used on information 
        technology; and
            (2) TikTok, if on information technology on the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, shall be removed from the information 
        technology.
    (b) Exception.--The Chair of the Commission or the head of a 
Federal agency may authorize an exception to the prohibition described 
in subsection (a) if the Chair or the head of the relevant Federal 
agency determines that it is appropriate for the purpose of an 
investigation to determine if TikTok has engaged in unfair or deceptive 
acts or practices within the meaning of section 5(a)(1) of the Federal 
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45(a)(1)).

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal 
        Trade Commission.
            (2) Federal agency.--The term ``Federal agency'' includes 
        the following:
                    (A) Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and 
                Reconnaissance Agency.
                    (B) Army Intelligence and Security Command.
                    (C) Central Intelligence Agency.
                    (D) Coast Guard Intelligence.
                    (E) Defense Intelligence Agency.
                    (F) Department of Defense.
                    (G) Department of Homeland Security.
                    (H) Department of Justice.
                    (I) Department of State.
                    (J) Department of the Treasury.
                    (K) Drug Enforcement Administration.
                    (L) Federal Bureau of Investigation.
                    (M) Marine Corps Intelligence Activity.
                    (N) National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
                    (O) National Reconnaissance Office.
                    (P) National Security Agency/Central Security 
                Service.
                    (Q) Office of the Director of National 
                Intelligence.
                    (R) Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence 
                of the Department of Energy.
                    (S) Office of Naval Intelligence.
            (3) Information technology.--The term ``information 
        technology'' has the meaning given that term in section 11101 
        of title 40, United States Code.
            (4) Military installation.--The term ``military 
        installation'' has the meaning given that term in section 2801 
        of title 10, United States Code.
            (5) Personal electronic device.--The term ``personal 
        electronic device'', with respect to an employee of a military 
        installation or a Federal agency, means--
                    (A) an electronic device that was not provided to 
                the employee by the relevant military installation or 
                Federal agency for the business of such military 
                installation or Federal agency; or
                    (B) an electronic device that was provided to the 
                employee by the relevant military installation or 
                Federal agency for the business of such military 
                installation or Federal agency but that was used by 
                such employee for a purpose other than the business of 
                such military installation or Federal agency.
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