Key Takeaways
- Federal employees can download TikTok on government devices again.
- A 2022 law previously banned the app on these devices.
- The change follows a deal transferring TikTok’s U.S. operations.
- Agencies can decide on usage based on their policies.
DOJ Lifts TikTok Ban
The Department of Justice has announced that federal employees are now permitted to download TikTok on their government-issued devices. This decision comes after a significant change in the app’s ownership structure.
Background on the Ban
In 2022, a law prohibited federal employees from using TikTok on their work devices due to security concerns. However, the DOJ has indicated that this law is no longer applicable following a deal that transferred ownership of TikTok’s U.S. operations to a joint venture involving Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX. Under this arrangement, Oracle will act as the security partner, while ByteDance retains a minority stake.
Details of the New Policy
According to a DOJ memo, President Donald Trump has authorized employees of Executive Branch agencies to download TikTok on their official devices. This is contingent upon the discretion of individual agencies and adherence to existing workplace policies.
Previous Restrictions
Before this announcement, TikTok faced a broader ban across the United States, which briefly took effect early last year. However, the implementation was delayed multiple times, with calls from Trump to restore access to the app.