TikTok restored its services in the US after President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to revive access to Chinese-based video-sharing apps on the condition of 50 percent American ownership.
TikTok said on Sunday that it restored its services in the US after President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would revive access to the China-based video-sharing app through an executive officer after taking office on Monday.
The platform said to users that “TikTok is back in the US due to President Trump’s efforts. ”
TikTok also issued an earlier statement after US users reported being able to access the Chinese-owned service’s website. At the same time, the far more widely used TikTok app itself began coming back online for some users with just a few essential services.
Trump said he would restore TikTok’s access in the US when he returns to power, provided American investors own at least 50 percent of the platform.
Following Trump’s statement, TikTok responded that it was “restoring services” in the US and would “work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the US.”
“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties for providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the video-sharing app said.
Trump’s announcement came hours after Google and Apple removed the Chinese app, currently owned by ByteDance, from their digital stores following a US Supreme Court order upholding a federal law requiring the firm to sell its operation to an approved American buyer.
Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said he would “extend the period before the law’s prohibitions take effect so that we can make a deal to protect our national security”.
“I would like the United States to have a 50 percent ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stay up,” added Trump, who will take oath as 47th US President today.
The president-elect also said that his executive order would specify there would be “no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before his order.”.
The US federal law mandated ByteDance to sever its ties with TikTok’s US operations by Sunday, citing national security risks linked to the app’s Chinese ownership. The legislation, passed in April last year with massive bipartisan backing, was signed by outgoing President Joe Biden. In response, ByteDance challenged the US law. Still, the Supreme Court rejected its plea, stating that the law does not infringe upon the First Amendment’s protection against government restrictions on free speech.
As of Saturday night, TikTok users in the US could not watch or post videos on the platform. Upon opening the app, a pop-up message informed users: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US.”. Another message stated, “Unfortunately, you can’t use TikTok for now.”.
TikTok, already banned in India for similar reasons, is one of the US’s most prominent social media platforms. With around 270 million users, it represents nearly half of the US population, with a large portion comprising younger users.
