TikTok is one of the most-used social networks in Ireland and in many countries across the world, but for government and the public sector, it’s been a big missed opportunity because of a ban.
But news emerging from the US this week and reported by Engadget suggests it might be making a comeback.
In 2022, the United States banned TikTok from federal government devices because of national security concerns linked to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
Now, federal employees can once again download the app on official devices.
The US Department of Justice says the original ban no longer applies to the version operated by TikTok USDS, the new joint venture created to manage TikTok’s American operations. Individual government departments and agencies can still decide to block the platform under their own workplace and cybersecurity policies.
What Changed?
The answer is not that governments have suddenly stopped worrying about TikTok.
TikTok changed its corporate, operational and technical structure in the United States.
American and global investors now control 80.1 per cent of TikTok USDS, while ByteDance retains a 19.9 per cent minority stake. The US recommendation algorithm is to be retrained and updated using American user data, with the algorithm and associated systems secured within Oracle’s US cloud infrastructure.
The Justice Department concluded that TikTok USDS operates independently of ByteDance and that the revised cybersecurity and algorithm arrangements address the risks that originally prompted the government-device ban.
In other words, TikTok did not win the argument by saying, “Trust us”. It restructured the business.
This is not a complete US Free-For-All
The announcement does not mean that every TikTok restriction in America has disappeared.
Federal agencies retain discretion over whether the app may be used on their devices. State and local government restrictions may also be governed by separate rules.
However, the change is symbolically important. TikTok has moved from being classified as a potential national security threat on federal devices to being an app that government employees may use again, provided their agency permits it.
That is quite the policy turnaround.
Could Ireland, the UK or the EU do the same?
Ireland’s National Cyber Security Centre advised government departments and state agencies in 2023 not to use TikTok on official devices. Limited exceptions could be made where there was a legitimate business requirement, such as communications or press-office work.
The UK introduced its own ban on TikTok on central government devices in March 2023, although it also allowed limited exemptions where the platform was required for official communications.
The European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the European Union also restricted TikTok on staff devices over cybersecurity and data-protection concerns.
None of these restrictions automatically changes because of the US decision.
The American solution applies to TikTok’s US operation, its ownership structure, its American data and the version of its algorithm managed through TikTok USDS.
European and British authorities would need to conduct their own risk assessments and decide whether TikTok’s arrangements in their jurisdictions provide equivalent protections.
There is also a wider difference in regulatory direction. While the United States is reconsidering TikTok’s security status following its restructuring, the European Commission is continuing to investigate the platform under the Digital Services Act. In February, the Commission preliminarily found that features including infinite scroll, autoplay and its highly personalised recommendation system may breach the DSA because of their potentially addictive design. TikTok has the opportunity to respond before any final decision is reached.
The Bigger Lesson for Technology Companies
Governments increasingly want more than assurances that data is safe. They want evidence of where the data is stored, who controls the company, who can access the technology, and how independently critical systems are operated.
For technology companies working with governments, corporate structure is becoming part of product design.
Data sovereignty is becoming part of procurement.
And trust is increasingly something that must be demonstrated through ownership, infrastructure and governance, rather than promised in a privacy statement.
TikTok went from national security threat to permitted workplace app through corporate restructuring, technical separation and what we can safely assume was some extremely expensive paperwork.
The question now is whether governments in Ireland, the UK and across the European Union will eventually revisit their own restrictions.
Will TikTok return to government devices in your country, or have the risks simply moved rather than disappeared?
About the Author
AI and Communications Specialist | Author | Podcaster | International Speaker
Joanne Sweeney is a recognised leader in digital marketing and digital transformation, specialising in the practical application of AI to enhance communication strategies. The founder of Digital Training Institute, Joanne empowers leaders and communications professionals to leverage AI responsibly and effectively, ensuring transparency, trust, and tangible results.
She completed the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Programme in AI and Public Policy this summer before launching her fourth book AI Playbook, in September. Joanne has also published two editions of Public Sector Marketing Pro, which were preceded by her first title, Social Media Under Investigation Law Enforcement and the Social Web.
Her books have become go-to resources for governments, public sector and policing agencies, as well as marketing and communications professionals, all navigating the challenges of the changing Internet.
Joanne is the host of the AI SIX Podcast, a daily six-minute podcast that provides actionable insights, expert interviews, and practical advice to help professionals navigate the new world of work.
