U.S. DOJ Ruling Allows TikTok Use on Government Devices
The U.S. Department of Justice ruled that TikTok is no longer subject to the federal device ban as its U.S. operations are now controlled and independently operated by U.S. investors, significantly reducing compliance risks for brands advertising on TikTok.
What are the key facts?
- 1Ruling Date: July 18, 2026
- 2Core Reason: TikTok USDS operates independently, 80.1% U.S. investor ownership
- 3Impact: Lifts federal device ban
What happened?
On July 18, the U.S. Department of Justice's legal counsel ruled that TikTok is no longer bound by a federal device ban from 2022. The ruling states that TikTok's U.S. operations are now run by TikTok USDS, an entity 80.1% owned by U.S. investors, and operates independently from ByteDance in terms of data security and algorithms. This ruling eliminates the compliance risks that previously plagued advertisers on the platform.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
For brands that have hesitated due to compliance issues, this ruling allows for greater confidence in increasing ad budgets and engaging in marketing activities on TikTok. Priority action: Immediately evaluate advertising plans on TikTok and consider increasing ad spend accordingly.