The United States' decision to lift a ban on TikTok for federal devices shows that earlier restrictions hinged largely on ownership and geopolitical factors, prompting Washington to re-examine its earlier security rationale, experts said.
Their comments came as the White House Office of Management and Budget rescinded its 2023 implementation directive in a memo dated Monday, saying the popular social media app no longer poses a national security threat and may be used on US government devices.
Chen Hong, director of East China Normal University's Asia-Pacific Studies Center, said the move carries symbolic weight beyond the limited number of federal devices directly affected.
"This is undoubtedly an important restoration of TikTok's standing in the US market," Chen told China Daily. The ban labeled TikTok as a national security risk, while its removal means that label has been removed in legal and administrative terms, he added.
"The move also reflected regulatory acceptance of the platform's operations and recognition of its compliance and security safeguards," said Pan Helin, a member of the expert committee for information and communication economy under China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
