Law restricts assess of TikTok, other Chinese platforms on university networks

Governor Bill Lee on April 13, 2023, signed Senate Bill 834/House Bill 1445 into law. It prohibits Tennessee public higher education institutions, including Middle Tennessee State University, from allowing access to social media platforms operated or hosted by a company based in China on the institution’s network. The law applies to internet services provided by an institution through a hard-wired or wireless network connection (such as BlueWifi) and became effective upon his signature.

The law means that students, faculty, staff and members of the general public will be blocked while using the University’s IT network if they attempt to access TikTok or other social media platforms operated or hosted by a company in China (WeChat, Sina Weibo, Tencent QQ, Tencent Video, Xiao HongShu, Douban, Zhihu, Meituan and Toutiao). The law does not prohibit students, faculty, staff, or members of the general public from accessing TikTok or other such Chinese social media platforms through individual personal network connection or a third-party network.

The law recognizes several key exceptions. It does not apply to institutions or employees of such institutions if downloading, accessing, or using such a social media platform is necessary to perform: (1) law enforcement activities; (2) investigatory functions to carry out official duties for bona fide law enforcement, investigative, or public safety purposes; or (3) audit, compliance, or legal functions of the institution.

We have created an FAQ to answer immediate concerns.

View TikTok Law

Frequently Asked Questions

What apps are covered by the law?

TikTok or other social media platforms like WeChat, Sina Weibo, Tencent QQ, Tencent Video, Xiao HongShu, Douban, Zhihu, Meituan and Toutiao that are operated or hosted by a company in China.

When will the law go into effect?

The law went into effect when Governor Lee signed it on April 13, 2023.

Can I have a personal TikTok account or do I have to cancel it?

You can continue to have a TikTok account. You will no longer be able to access it from a university network.

Will I get in trouble if I use TikTok while on campus?

No. The law does not prohibit students, faculty, staff or members of the general public from accessing TikTok or other such Chinese social media platforms through an individual’s own personal network connection or a third-party network.

Are there exemptions to the law?

The law recognizes several key exceptions. It does not apply to institutions or employees of such institutions if downloading, accessing, or using such a social media platform is necessary to perform: (1) law enforcement activities; (2) investigatory functions to carry out official duties for bona fide law enforcement, investigative, or public safety purposes; or (3) audit, compliance, or legal functions of the institution.

How will you enforce this?

The enforcement mechanism is seamless and should require nothing on the part of the end user. If they try to access one of the blocked sites while on the University network, the application or the URL will not resolve and they will not be able to connect.