While the 2022 No TikTok on Government Devices Act prohibits the use of the app on government devices, the cable points to a section of the law that permits agencies to make “exceptions for…national security interests and activities.” So the State Department conducted “an assessment of national security and legal considerations,” and — surprise! — public diplomacy officials qualify (as well as contractors). As is often the case, national security is a more elastic concept than the First Amendment.

TikTok must be banned for National Security, but also kept because of National Security.