Mamdani lifts NYC’s TikTok ban with new security guardrails in place

NEW YORK, United States (MNTV) – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reversed a ban on TikTok use by city government employees and agencies, reinstating the platform with new security restrictions after his predecessor blocked it over data concerns tied to its Chinese ownership.

“TikTok, we’re back,” Mamdani said in a four-second video posted to the reactivated @nycmayor account.

The handle had been dormant since 2023, when former Mayor Eric Adams banned TikTok from city government devices over concerns that its parent company, ByteDance, could give the Chinese government access to sensitive American user data.

Under the new policy, agency personnel may only use TikTok on city-issued devices containing no other applications, and agencies wishing to use the platform must designate specific communications staff for the purpose.

“The Mamdani administration is committed to using every tool in our toolbox to communicate with New Yorkers,” a city email to agencies said.

“At a moment when people are turning to city government for information about free services, emergency situations and upcoming events, we want to open up new avenues of communication with the public.”

The reversal follows a broader shift in the national debate over TikTok. Trump sought to ban the platform outright in 2020 but reversed course after his second inauguration, and ByteDance has since spun out a new American entity to run TikTok in the United States.

Cybersecurity experts, however, say data security concerns remain, as ByteDance retains an ownership stake.

Dozens of states, including New York State, still ban employees from using TikTok on government devices.

For Mamdani, the platform carries personal significance — he used it heavily during his 2025 mayoral campaign to reach voters and organize canvassing events, and it became a hallmark of his political rise.