The U.S. Department of Commerce said on Sunday local time that it would "actively defend" an executive order aimed at prohibiting U.S. entities from conducting transactions with the popular short video app TikTok.

On Friday, local time, U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone issued a court order to stop the U.S. Department of Commerce's order that will take effect on November 12.

The US Department of Commerce issued this preliminary technical ban in September, which aims to restrict TikTok's Internet hosting, content distribution network, Internet transmission or exchange services, thereby making the application unusable.

The U.S. Department of Commerce said on Sunday that it will "combide by the ban... but will actively defend this executive order and the specific implementation measures of the department to avoid illegal situations."

Bellerstone wrote, “The government’s own description of the TikTok application threatening national security is hypothetical.”

It is understood that the US Department of Commerce issued two bans on TikTok in September. One is a ban on downloading, which is scheduled to be implemented on September 27; the other is a technical ban, which is scheduled to take effect on November 12.

On September 27th, Washington District Judge Carl Nichols (Carl Nichols) prevented the US Department of Commerce from removing the TikTok app from Apple and Google's app stores. However, the technology ban was not blocked at the time.

Nichols is scheduled to hold a hearing this Wednesday to discuss other aspects of the ban on Friday by Bellerstone.

Before three TikTok creators filed a lawsuit against the US government's TikTok ban, a court order issued by Baylorstone also suspended the ban on TikTok downloads from the app store. Judge Baylorstone supported the views of the three internet celebrities, who believed that TikTok videos indeed constituted “information materials” protected by relevant laws. He wrote: “The short videos created on TikTok are expressive and informative, similar to movies, artworks, photos and news that are clearly protected by the International Emergency Economic Power Act.”

A TikTok spokesperson said in the statement: “We are deeply moved by the support from the community. People are always working hard to protect their rights of expression, careers, and support small businesses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We support the creative community. Continue to share their voices through platforms and other channels, and are committed to continuing to provide similar support for them."

Negotiations between Wal-Mart and Oracle to acquire equity in the newly formed company TikTok Global are still ongoing. TikTok Global will be responsible for business in the US market. U.S. President Trump said last month that the agreement was “supported” by him.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated that China has always opposed the US's generalization of national security concepts, abuse of national power, and unreasonable suppression of bullying by other countries' enterprises. We hope that the US will truly respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, abide by international economic and trade rules, and provide a fair, fair, open, and non-discriminatory business environment for companies from all over the world to invest and operate in the United States. (Chenchen)

Tiktok American events:

On August 1, according to people familiar with the matter, Microsoft was negotiating with ByteDance to acquire the American business of popular video app TikTok. At the same time, US President Trump is weighing severe actions against the company, including forcing the parent company ByteDance to sell it.

On August 3, after threatening to "ban TikTok," U.S. President Trump issued a blatant threat-TikTok must be sold to the United States before September 15 or it must be closed, and a considerable part of the money must be given to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. "Because we made this transaction possible."

On August 3, Microsoft issued a document confirming that it will continue to negotiate on the acquisition of TikTok's US business. The company’s CEO and Trump discussed Tiktok and will speed up the negotiation to complete the negotiation no later than September 15, or Other US investors will be invited to participate in the acquisition.

On August 3, Zhang Yiming, the founder of ByteDance, sent a letter from all employees of the company, responding to the issue of TikTok's US business being forced to sell by CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States). The letter of all staff traced back the experience of TikTok in North America in the past year, and admitted that the final solution has not been fully decided.

On August 4, Zhang Yiming issued an internal letter again, specifically emphasizing that Bytedance employees must have a "Martian perspective" in their work. Cultural conflict is a problem that most Chinese companies will not encounter, but it is not for Bytedance. Avoid, which is why he added "diversity compatibility" to corporate values. In addition, Zhang Yiming also responded to public opinion on social media, saying that the reason for CFIUS to force TikTok to sell its US business was not the musical.ly merger, and that the complete ban was its real purpose.

On August 6, US President Trump signed an executive order, ordering that if ByteDance does not sell TikTok within 45 days, it will be banned by the United States.

On August 7, ByteDance issued a statement against the US government executive order. The statement stated that the presidential order set a dangerous precedent that violates freedom of expression and open markets. If the US government cannot give ByteDance a fair treatment, ByteDance The beating will appeal to a US court.

On August 14, US President Trump signed an executive order requiring ByteDance to sell or divest the company’s TikTok business in the United States within 90 days, an extension of 45 days.

On August 18, a person familiar with the matter revealed that Oracle had conducted preliminary negotiations with TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, and seriously considered buying the app’s business in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

On August 24, TikTok formally filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in the United States, advocating the repeal of Trump's executive order issued on August 6, and advocating prohibiting the Ministry of Commerce from implementing the executive order. In addition, an employee of TikTok also filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming that the ban issued by the Trump administration violated the Constitution and illegally deprived him of his salary.

On August 27, TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer (Kevin Mayer) announced his resignation from ByteDance. Kevin Meyer officially joined ByteDance on June 1 this year as the COO of ByteDance and global CEO of TikTok, responsible for TikTok, Helo, music, games and other businesses.

On August 27, Wal-Mart has confirmed that it is cooperating with Microsoft to jointly acquire TikTok.

On August 28, the Ministry of Commerce of China and Science and Technology jointly announced the "Announcement on Adjusting and Publishing the Catalogue of Technologies Prohibited and Restricted from Exporting in China". Expert interpretation: The Chinese government officially enters the market, and TikTok is not so easy to sell.

On September 13, Microsoft issued an official statement stating that it had received news from Bytedance and would not sell its short video application TikTok to Microsoft in the United States.

On September 14, U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said in an interview with the media that the deadline for TikTok’s final resolution is September 20. Two procedures are currently in progress. One is the US CFUIS (US Commission for Foreign Investment)’s investigation of TikTok. The other is a national security review based on a presidential executive order. Mnuchin said that the Treasury Department received a proposal over the weekend that Oracle, as TikTok's trusted data security compliance partner, represents the solution to US national security issues. TikTok will continue to use the United States as its headquarters and create 20,000 jobs for the United States.

On September 14, TikTok issued a statement saying that the company had submitted a plan to the US government. American Oracle said on the same day that it had reached an agreement with TikTok's parent company, Bytedance, to become its "trusted technology provider", but the agreement still needs the approval of the US government.

On September 16, U.S. President Trump stated at a White House press conference that he did not like the current cooperation agreement between Oracle and TikTok because TikTok’s U.S. business will not be sold to Oracle, and he was told that, The US Treasury Department will not be able to get compensation from this transaction.

On September 18, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a statement on its official website, deciding to prohibit TikTok from downloading and updating app stores in the United States from the 20th, and will prohibit TikTok from providing services in the United States from November 12.

On September 19, TikTok issued a statement saying that its parent company ByteDance has reached a principled consensus with Oracle and Wal-Mart in the United States, and the three parties will quickly reach a cooperation agreement in compliance with the laws of China and the United States. However, the two companies ByteDance and Oracle issued conflicting statements, which made people doubt the prospect of this transaction.

On September 19, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that it would postpone the ban on downloading the American short video sharing app TikTok that took effect on the 20th until at least September 27. The US Department of Commerce said the decision was made "in consideration of recent positive developments."

On September 21, Trump stated that Oracle and Wal-Mart must "fully control" TikTok Global. If ByteDance retains any control over TikTok Global, he will refuse to approve the transaction. His request is that Bytedance and TikTok. Global "has nothing to do". In this regard, Hu Xijin commented, “TikTok is not a company in Australia or a small brother country in the United States, and China will never accept these shameless conditions. Old Hu is willing to believe in the agreement Trump requested. Jumping will eventually not sign, even if it signs, the Chinese government will never approve it."

On September 27, the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia ruled to suspend the implementation of the U.S. government's administrative order to remove TikTok from the U.S. mobile app store. The US Department of Commerce website issued a statement stating that it will obey the court's restraining order and has taken immediate measures.

On October 9, the U.S. Department of Justice initiated an appeal process in response to the court’s previous judgment that prevented the implementation of the Trump administration’s TikTok ban.

On October 30, the judge dismissed the TikTok technology ban from the US Department of Commerce.

Source: NetEase Technology Report, translated by Google Translate