US Lifts TikTok Ban on Government Devices After Ownership Restructuring
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Trump administration has lifted the ban on TikTok across federal government devices, declaring the platform no longer poses a national security threat following its restructuring under American ownership. The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum on Monday revoking the 2023 directive that prohibited the app on government-issued devices .
Key Points
- The White House Office of Management and Budget released a memo on Monday (10th) rescinding the 2023 directive that banned TikTok on government devices
- In January, TikTok and ByteDance completed a transaction transferring partial U.S. operations to American investors led by Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX from Abu Dhabi
- TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew secured a board seat in the new joint venture while Adam Presser became CEO of the U.S. company
- The Justice Department concluded that TikTok no longer meets the definition of a "covered application" under a 2022 law due to its new ownership structure
- Most of Trump's cabinet members joined TikTok late last month and posted "welcome back" videos on agency accounts
- The new TikTok U.S. Data Security Joint Venture LLC now handles data protection, algorithm safety, content moderation, and software assurance
- ByteDance retains intellectual property rights to TikTok's algorithm while licensing it to the joint venture
Why It Matters
The removal of the federal TikTok ban marks a significant reversal in U.S. technology policy, demonstrating how corporate restructuring can resolve national security concerns while preserving a platform used by over 200 million Americans . This development also signals the Trump administration's willingness to engage with Chinese technology companies under new ownership frameworks, potentially setting a precedent for similar negotiations in the future.
The removal of the federal TikTok ban marks a significant reversal in U.S. technology policy, demonstrating how corporate restructuring can resolve national security concerns while preserving a platform used by over 200 million Americans . This development also signals the Trump administration's willingness to engage with Chinese technology companies under new ownership frameworks, potentially setting a precedent for similar negotiations in the future.