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DOJ Lifts TikTok Ban on Federal Devices

Is TikTok now safe for federal devices under new U.S. ownership or does it still pose a serious national security risk?
DOJ Lifts TikTok Ban on Federal Devices
Image credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing/Getty Images

The Spin


Pro-establishment narrative

TikTok on federal devices is no longer an issue since the app is no longer controlled by ByteDance. The new U.S.-based joint venture — majority-owned by American investors like Silver Lake and Oracle — has overhauled the algorithm and cybersecurity infrastructure. Third-party audits and independent oversight make this version of TikTok at least as secure as any other social media platform on the market.

Establishment-critical narrative

Changing ownership percentages doesn't make TikTok safe for government devices — a majority-American stake is not a security firewall. The DOJ cleared the app the same week the president flagged CCP election interference, which is a glaring contradiction in national security policy. Federal workers scrolling TikTok on taxpayer-funded phones while real threats go unaddressed is a serious problem.

Pro-China narrative

TikTok never truly posed a national security threat. Claims of ByteDance enabling Chinese government access relied on hypothetical legal vulnerabilities rather than documented espionage or influence operations. The resulting backlash was driven as much by broader geopolitical tensions and anti-China sentiment as by substantiated security risks.


Public Figures


The Controversies



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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 7.4.1

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 7.4.1