U.S. Justice Department Allows Federal Employees to Use TikTok Again

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reversed its ban on federal employees using TikTok on government-issued devices. This move lifts restrictions that were put in place in 2022 amid national security worries.

The DOJ's decision comes after TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, transferred control of U.S. user data and operations to a new joint venture called TikTok USDS. In a legal opinion provided to President Donald Trump, the DOJ stated that the current version of TikTok operating in the U.S. no longer poses the same national security risks that led to the initial prohibition.

Consequently, employees across the executive branch can now install TikTok on their official devices. However, they must still adhere to their respective agencies' policies and workplace rules. The original ban was enacted based on concerns that the Chinese government could access user data through ByteDance.

The Department of Justice clarified that these concerns have been addressed by the formation of TikTok USDS. This joint venture, finalized in January, sees American and global investors holding an 80.1% stake, while ByteDance retains a 19.9% minority share. This restructuring is seen as sufficient to alleviate the previous security apprehensions.