TikTok is once again available for download on Apple App Store and Google Play. The popular social media app was removed on January 18 after its leadership temporarily halted U.S. services. This decision followed the enforcement of a national security law targeting apps owned by foreign adversaries.
Why Was TikTok Removed?
The U.S. Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act required ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based owner, to sell its U.S. operations by January 19 or face a ban. Tech giants like Apple, Google, and Oracle risked heavy penalties if they continued hosting the app.
The U.S. government argued that ByteDance’s ties to China made TikTok a national security threat. TikTok, however, challenged the law, claiming it violated the First Amendment rights of its 170 million U.S. users. The Supreme Court backed the Biden administration, ruling that divestiture was necessary to protect user data.
Trump’s Executive Order Extends TikTok’s Deadline
TikTok resisted the Supreme Court ruling and even threatened to shut down operations. However, the app returned after former President Donald Trump intervened. He signed an executive order on his first day in office, extending the deadline by 75 days to April 5.
Trump later stated on Truth Social that he wanted the U.S. to hold a 50% stake in a joint venture to “save TikTok” while ensuring it remains under safe management.
How Has TikTok Recovered?
Despite being unavailable in app stores for almost a month, TikTok returns to app stores with nearly 90% of its pre-ban traffic restored. The app remains at the center of debates over data privacy and national security. With the April 5 deadline approaching, TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain.
