It hasn’t even been a full day since ByteDance shut down TikTok within the US, and now it says the app is coming again. In a press release posted on X Sunday afternoon, TikTok wrote, “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service.”
The assertion additionally thanked Trump, who will likely be sworn in on Monday and who beforehand stated he was contemplating giving TikTok an extension amid reviews of potential bidders (although ByteDance has expressed little interest in promoting). “We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States,” TikTok stated.
On the time of this writing, the TikTok app is as soon as once more up and working for me regardless of beforehand displaying a message saying I “can’t use TikTok for now.” Phew, what an agonizing — checks watch — 12 hours that was with out it. TikTok does not but appear to be again within the App Retailer or Google Play Retailer, although, so should you deleted the app out of your telephone, you may most likely have to attend a bit of longer to get it again. CapCut, one of many different ByteDance-owned apps affected by the ban, additionally is not out there.
Whereas the legislation banning TikTok was set to enter impact in the present day, January 19, the outgoing administration has expressed that it could not be imposing it in Biden’s ultimate hours as president. MSNBC reported on Saturday that White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre known as TikTok’s menace to go darkish “a stunt,” saying “we see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump Administration takes office on Monday.” However TikTok maintained that it couldn’t keep on-line with out assurance that service suppliers wouldn’t be punished.
Trump chimed in on Sunday morning, writing on Reality Social, “I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order.”
He additionally outlined a imprecise plan for a way he envisions TikTok’s future within the US. “I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say [sic] up. Without U.S. approval, there is no Tik Tok.”
In line with NPR‘s Bobby Allyn, who spoke to an individual near the matter, Trump’s assertion was reassuring sufficient for TikTok’s net suppliers Oracle and Akamai to revive service. However Apple and Google “still have not agreed to let TikTok return,” Allyn reviews. Suppliers that do not adjust to the TikTok ban legislation have been threatened with penalties that would quantity to billions of {dollars}, so it is no shock we aren’t seeing TikTok again within the App Retailer or Google Play Retailer simply but. Apple has already stated of its choice to drag TikTok and different ByteDance apps that it “is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates.”
I certain hope you aren’t already exhausted by the forwards and backwards ridiculousness of this case as a result of, my associates, it’s not over.
Replace, January 19 2025, 5:20PM ET: This story has been up to date so as to add further info from NPR on the suppliers which have restored service to TikTok.
