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DOJ Says Federal Employees Can Download TikTok · GNN Daily Breaking News

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  Speaker 1: The US Department of Justice has announced that federal employees
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  Speaker 1: may download TikTok on government issued devices, a decision that
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  Speaker 1: reverses earlier bands and reignites debate over national security and
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  Speaker 1: digital freedoms. For years, TikTok has been at the center
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  Speaker 1: of controversy in Washington. Lawmakers and security officials have warned
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  Speaker 1: that the app, owned by China's Byte Dance could expose
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  Speaker 1: sensitive data to foreign influence. In response, federal agencies previously
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  Speaker 1: restricted or outright banned its use on government phones and computers.
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  Speaker 1: But in a new guidance, the DOJ stated that federal
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  Speaker 1: employees are allowed to download TikTok, provided they comply with
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  Speaker 1: agency specific rules and oversight. Officials emphasized that the decision
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  Speaker 1: reflects ongoing legal reviews and court rulings which have questioned
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  Speaker 1: the constitutionality of blanket bands. The announcement has drawn mixed reactions.
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  Speaker 1: Supporters argue that the move restores fairness and aligns with
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  Speaker 1: free speech protections. They note that TikTok is a major
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  Speaker 1: platform for communication outreach and even government messaging, and that
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  Speaker 1: banning it outright could limit engagement with younger audiences. Critics, however,
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  Speaker 1: warned that the decision could expose federal systems to risks.
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  Speaker 1: Cybersecurity experts stress that TikTok's data collection practices remain a
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  Speaker 1: concern and that allowing downloads on government devices could create vulnerabilities.
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  Speaker 1: Some lawmakers have already vowed to push for new legislation
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  Speaker 1: to reinstate restrictions. The DOJ's clarification comes amid broader legal
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  Speaker 1: battles over TikTok's future. In the United States, Courts have
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  Speaker 1: blocked attempts to ban the app nationwide, citing First Amendment protections.
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  Speaker 1: At the same time, Congress continues to debate bills that
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  Speaker 1: would force byte Dance to divest TikTok's US operations or
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  Speaker 1: face new restrictions for federal employees. The ruling provides clarity,
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  Speaker 1: but also raises questions. Agencies may still impose their own limits,
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  Speaker 1: meaning access could vary across departments. The do o J
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  Speaker 1: emphasized that security protocols remain in place and that employees
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  Speaker 1: must follow guidelines to prevent misuse. The decision underscores the
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  Speaker 1: tension between national security concerns and digital rights. Tik Tok's
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  Speaker 1: popularity makes it difficult to regulate without sparking backlash. Yet
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  Speaker 1: its ownership and data practices continue to fuel suspicion as
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  Speaker 1: the debate unfolds. The do o j's ruling marks a
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  Speaker 1: significant shift in policy. Federal employees now have the green
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  Speaker 1: light to download tik tok, but the controversy over its
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  Speaker 1: role in government and society is far from settled.