There have been several developments related to TikTok's availability in various countries. In August 2020, the U.S. government issued an executive order directing TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership of TikTok's U.S. operations within 90 days due to national security concerns related to the app's handling of user data. As a result, TikTok entered into negotiations with several U.S. companies, including Microsoft, to potentially acquire its U.S. operations.
On September 20, 2020, President Trump issued a follow-up executive order that prohibited any transactions with TikTok and WeChat, another Chinese-owned social media app, beginning on September 20, 2020. This order effectively banned the use of TikTok in the U.S. However, on September 27, 2020, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction blocking the Trump administration from banning TikTok, stating that the government had not provided sufficient evidence to justify the ban.
On November 12, 2020, TikTok and Oracle announced that they had reached a deal under which Oracle would become TikTok's "trusted technology provider" in the U.S., and Walmart announced that it would join the partnership as a minority investor. However, the deal was not approved by the U.S. government and TikTok's future in the U.S. remains uncertain.
In other countries, TikTok has faced similar scrutiny and possible bans. In India, TikTok was banned in June 2020 due to national security concerns, but the ban was later lifted. In Australia, the government is considering banning TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps due to similar concerns.
Is TikTok banned on Government Devices?
It is possible that the use of TikTok may be restricted or prohibited on government devices due to security concerns. Government agencies and departments may have their own policies and guidelines regarding the use of TikTok and other apps on government devices. These policies can vary depending on the agency or department, and may be put in place to protect against potential security risks or to ensure compliance with government regulations.
If you are an employee of a government agency or department and want to use TikTok on a government device, it is recommended that you check with your agency or department for specific guidelines on the use of TikTok and other apps on government devices. If TikTok is not allowed on government devices, you may be able to access the app on your personal device, as long as you follow your agency or department's guidelines for using personal devices for work-related activities.
It is important to note that the situation surrounding TikTok's availability is constantly evolving, and it is possible that there could be further developments in the future.