Federal workers are now allowed to use TikTok on government devices after a year-long ban, as per a memo from the Justice Department.
This change follows ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, handing over control of the app’s U.S. user data to TikTok US Data Security (TikTok USDS), a joint venture that is mostly owned by American investors. This transition was finalized back in January.
Previously, a law enacted in 2022 prohibited federal employees from accessing TikTok on government-owned devices due to national security worries. However, the Justice Department’s Office of General Counsel stated that the restructuring has mitigated the risks that prompted the original ban.
The memo, directed to a deputy legal advisor under President Trump, asserted that there was “no such risk” in the U.S.-controlled version of TikTok.
In the opinion, officials noted, “We understand that we subsequently directed agency employees to download TikTok onto their official devices, subject to the agency’s discretion and in accordance with all applicable workplace policies.”
The sale agreement specifies that American and international investors will hold 80.1% of the new venture, while ByteDance retains a 19.9% stake. The Department of Justice noted that ByteDance’s limited ownership does not significantly affect the operational control of TikTok USDS.
Following the requirements of the 2024 Act, which received strong bipartisan support in Congress, ByteDance’s divestment was required. This law, enacted by President Biden in April, demanded the company relinquish its control over TikTok’s U.S. operations to avoid a ban from app stores.
TikTok argues that this law infringes on the free speech rights of millions, as they continue to challenge its constitutionality. A Supreme Court decision on January 17, 2025, upheld Congress’s right to impose a sell-or-ban ultimatum based on significant national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data practices and connections to foreign adversaries.
Throughout the past year, Trump postponed the law’s implementation, granting potential investors ample opportunity to express their interest in acquiring TikTok, which is utilized by around 200 million Americans. Major players like Oracle, Silver Lake, and Emirati firm MGX emerged as key investors. In January, the new venture announced that U.S. user data would be secured in Oracle’s cloud, with adjustments made to TikTok’s recommendation algorithm to use U.S. data.
