TikTok Ban on Government Phones Lifted After U.S. Joint Venture Restructuring

The U.S. Justice Department has informed federal employees that they can now download and use TikTok on government-issued devices, reversing a longstanding prohibition. The announcement came in a legal opinion from the department's Office of Legal Counsel, which determined that a federal law barring the app from government devices no longer applies, as reported by KFGO and nkomode.com.

2 sources

KFGOFederal employees can download TikTok on government devices, DOJ saysnkomode.comDOJ says it's no longer illegal to download TikTok on federal devices

"The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel has determined that a federal law banning TikTok from government devices no longer applies, following the shift of TikTok's U.S.-based operations to a new joint venture."

This restructuring of TikTok's American operations effectively removed the legal basis for the prior ban, which had been put in place amid national security concerns. The new joint venture structure apparently satisfied the conditions that had triggered the restriction, allowing the DOJ to issue its revised guidance.

"federal employees can now download and use TikTok on government-issued devices, effectively lifting the previous ban."

The reversal marks a significant policy shift for the federal government, which had previously prohibited the popular social video app on official hardware. The Justice Department's opinion, dated Friday, was reported by multiple outlets including y94.com, which noted the decision came from the department's Office of Legal Counsel. Federal workers can now freely access the platform on work phones and computers without violating federal rules.

y94.comFederal employees can download TikTok on government devices, DOJ says