US allows TikTok on government devices, says app no longer poses security risk

The US Justice Department has cleared federal employees to download and use TikTok on government-issued devices, reversing a restriction that had been in place since 2022 over national security concerns.

The decision follows changes to TikTok's ownership and data management structure in the United States.

According to a Reuters report, the Justice Department said the law banning the app on official devices no longer applies because TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, has transferred control of the platform's US user data and operations to a new joint venture, TikTok USDS.

The department also said the current version of the app no longer presents the national security risks that had prompted the earlier restrictions. The opinion, reported by Reuters, was addressed to President Donald Trump, noting that executive branch employees may now install TikTok on official devices, subject to individual agency policies and workplace rules.

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Why the ban has been lifted

The original ban was introduced under a 2022 law that prohibited TikTok from being used on government devices due to concerns that user data could be accessed by the Chinese government through ByteDance.

However, the Justice Department said those concerns have been addressed through the creation of TikTok USDS, a joint venture that now controls the app's US operations and user data.

Under the agreement completed in January, American and global investors own 80.1 per cent of the joint venture, while ByteDance retains a 19.9 per cent minority stake. The department said ByteDance's continued minority ownership "makes no practical difference" to the security assessment.

Data and algorithm moved under US oversight

TikTok has said that the joint venture is responsible for protecting US user data, the app and its recommendation algorithm through enhanced cybersecurity and privacy measures.

As part of the arrangement, the platform's content recommendation algorithm for American users will be retrained, tested and updated using US-based data. The system is hosted on Oracle's US cloud infrastructure, with Oracle serving as one of the venture's three principal investors.

ByteDance has also said TikTok USDS will oversee safeguards designed to prevent unauthorised access to American user information.

Trump's stance on TikTok

The latest move comes after President Donald Trump chose not to enforce a 2024 law that required ByteDance to sell TikTok's US assets or face a nationwide ban. The law, which was upheld by the US Supreme Court, would have taken effect the following January.

Trump has frequently highlighted his popularity on TikTok and has supported efforts to keep the platform available in the US.

According to Reuters, ByteDance will continue to own TikTok's US business operations but has handed control of the platform's US data, content management and recommendation algorithm to the TikTok USDS joint venture. TikTok currently has around 200 million users in the United States.