U.S. Department of Justice Allows Reinstallation of TikTok on Government-Issued Devices

U.S. federal employees are now allowed to reinstall TikTok on government-issued devices, following the Department of Justice's determination that the current version does not pose the security risks that led to its previous ban. In 2022, the DOJ had prohibited TikTok on nearly all federal devices due to national security concerns, with then-FBI Director Chris Krebs warning that China could collect user data through its parent company, ByteDance. Subsequent efforts included pushing for TikTok's U.S. operations to be sold, culminating in a 2024 law requiring the sale or facing a ban. This year, the TikTok U.S. Data Security joint venture was formed, with ByteDance retaining about 20% ownership and the rest held by non-Chinese investors like Oracle. The DOJ stated that the new joint venture's version of TikTok does not meet the criteria for the previous restrictions, as it operates independently and has modified algorithms and cybersecurity measures. However, not all federal agencies are required to permit TikTok installation; some may still prohibit it based on workforce management concerns.