US Justice Department Lifts TikTok Ban on Government Devices
The US Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel has ruled that the version of TikTok operated by TikTok USDS is no longer subject to the government device ban. The platform has passed government security reviews, is majority-owned by American investors, and Oracle is involved in data oversight. This eliminates compliance risk concerns for brands advertising on TikTok, marking official recognition of the platform's legality in the US market.
What are the key facts?
- 1Department of Justice ruling
- 2TikTok USDS operates independently
- 380.1% owned by American investors
- 4Oracle oversees data infrastructure
What happened?
On July 18, the Office of Legal Counsel at the Department of Justice ruled that the version of TikTok operated by TikTok USDS is no longer subject to the 2022 federal device ban. The joint venture is 80.1% owned by American investors, with Oracle managing U.S. data infrastructure, while ByteDance retains only a 19.9% stake and has no operational control. This ruling signifies that TikTok has passed government security scrutiny and is no longer viewed as a national security threat.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
The compliance risks for TikTok have significantly decreased, allowing brands to invest more confidently in advertising on the platform in the long term. Sellers are encouraged to reassess TikTok’s role in their omnichannel marketing strategies.