New York City has lifted its ban on TikTok for government use, nearly three years after joining other municipalities nationwide in blocking the Chinese-owned platform from official devices due to security worries.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, known for his social media presence, announced the policy change directly on TikTok Tuesday with the message: “TikTok, we’re back.”
City departments can now resume posting content on the popular video platform, provided they follow new cybersecurity protocols outlined in a Tuesday memo from municipal technology officials.
The original ban was implemented by former Mayor Eric Adams in 2023, mirroring actions taken by federal authorities and numerous states concerned that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, might provide user information to Chinese officials.
TikTok previously dismissed such worries as baseless. New York City authorities at that time cited potential risks to municipal computer networks as justification for the restriction.
NYC Cyber Command, the agency responsible for protecting city digital infrastructure, explained in Tuesday’s memo that the policy shift aims to expand communication channels with residents.
“The Mamdani administration is committed to using every tool in our toolbox to communicate with New Yorkers,” NYC Cyber Command wrote. “At a moment when people are turning to city government for information about free services, emergency situations, upcoming events, and more, we want to open up new avenues of communication with the public and help deliver the information New Yorkers need.”
Under the new guidelines, city departments must use dedicated devices exclusively for TikTok that cannot access confidential information, email systems, or other internal networks. Additionally, agencies must create accounts using official credentials rather than personal email addresses and assign specific employees to manage the platform.
TikTok representatives did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
The 34-year-old Mamdani has built his political brand partly through engaging social media content, with his informative videos gaining widespread attention online during his campaign and tenure as mayor.
The official mayoral TikTok account, inactive since the prohibition began, now features several new posts.
Recent content includes Mamdani promoting his “rental rip-off hearings” where tenants can voice complaints about substandard housing conditions. Another video features the mayor with New York Liberty basketball player Natasha Cloud announcing a bracket-style contest allowing residents to vote on small neighborhood improvements, such as repairing damaged basketball hoops.
