The US Department of Justice has concluded that federal employees may once again install and use TikTok on government-issued devices, marking a major policy shift after years of restrictions tied to national security concerns.
The updated position reverses the practical impact of a 2022 federal law that prohibited the popular short video platform from being used on official government hardware. At the time, lawmakers argued that TikTok’s ownership by Chinese company ByteDance created potential risks involving sensitive government information and access to user data.
According to a newly released legal opinion from the Justice Department, those concerns have changed significantly following a comprehensive restructuring of TikTok’s operations in the United States. Officials said the previous legal restrictions no longer apply because control over US user data and core operations has been transferred to a newly formed joint venture known as TikTok USDS.
The decision means executive branch agencies can now allow employees to download the app, although each agency will still retain the authority to establish its own workplace policies governing its use.
TikTok USDS becomes the center of US operations
A key factor behind the Justice Department’s decision is the creation of TikTok USDS, a joint venture designed specifically to oversee TikTok’s American operations and strengthen data security protections.
The venture officially became operational earlier this year after completing a restructuring agreement involving ByteDance and a group of American and international investors. Under the new ownership structure, American and global investors collectively hold an 80.1 percent stake, while ByteDance retains a minority ownership of 19.9 percent.
The Justice Department stated that ByteDance’s remaining minority stake does not materially affect operational control or the security measures established under the new arrangement.
TikTok has also confirmed that the joint venture is responsible for managing US user data while handling updates, testing, and retraining of the platform’s recommendation algorithm. These activities are now conducted within infrastructure hosted in Oracle’s US cloud environment, adding another layer of oversight intended to address previous security concerns.
Officials believe these structural changes significantly reduce the risks that originally prompted the federal restrictions.
White House yet to respond as Trump administration changes approach
The legal opinion was addressed to President Donald Trump and reflects the administration’s evolving position on TikTok.
According to the memorandum, executive branch agencies have already been instructed that employees may download TikTok on official devices if doing so aligns with agency policies and workplace guidelines.
Neither the White House nor TikTok immediately commented following the release of the opinion.
The move also represents a notable departure from previous enforcement plans. In 2024, Congress approved legislation requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US business or face a nationwide ban. The measure was later upheld by the US Supreme Court.
However, the Trump administration ultimately chose not to enforce that law after negotiations resulted in the creation of TikTok USDS. Trump has also frequently highlighted his popularity on the platform, signaling a more favorable approach toward TikTok compared with earlier government positions.
Security concerns remain under close watch
Although the Justice Department now considers the current version of TikTok suitable for use on government devices, questions surrounding the platform are unlikely to disappear entirely.
TikTok says the new structure includes extensive cybersecurity protections, stronger privacy controls, and operational safeguards designed to protect the data of roughly 200 million American users. The company has repeatedly argued that US information is now managed separately from ByteDance’s broader operations.
Last year, reports suggested that while ByteDance would continue to own part of TikTok’s US business, authority over user data, content moderation systems, and recommendation technology would move to the newly established joint venture. Those plans have now been implemented and form the basis of the Justice Department’s latest legal assessment.
For federal employees, the practical outcome is straightforward. Agencies now have the flexibility to permit TikTok on official devices if they determine that doing so is appropriate under their own internal security policies. While national security discussions surrounding Chinese technology companies are expected to continue, the government’s latest opinion signals that TikTok’s restructuring has satisfied the legal concerns that previously justified the federal device ban.
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