Agency Report
TikTok has returned to Apple and Google app stores nearly a month after a new security law forced its removal, AFP journalists confirmed on Thursday.
The Chinese-owned social media platform has been at risk of being banned in the United States due to national security concerns over the data it collects from users.
The app briefly went dark on January 18, disappearing from app stores to the frustration of millions of users. However, the service was restored after newly inaugurated U.S.
President Donald Trump ordered a 75-day pause on enforcing the law.
The legislation, signed by his predecessor Joe Biden and passed overwhelmingly by Congress, required TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban.
Apple and Google had not reinstated TikTok on their app stores until now
Despite the pause, Apple and Google had not reinstated TikTok on their app stores until now.
The law was introduced amid fears that the Chinese government could use TikTok to spy on Americans or manipulate public opinion through data collection and content control.
Trump has floated the idea of a joint venture between the U.S. and ByteDance, though he has not provided details on how this would work.
“Essentially, with TikTok, I have the right to either sell it or close it,” he said after issuing the pause.
“We may have to get an approval from China too… but I’m sure they’ll approve it or that would be a hostile act” that could be met with retaliatory tariffs, he added.
The law remains officially in effect, and companies that violate it could face penalties of up to $5,000 per user if the app is accessed.
During his first term, Trump had attempted to ban TikTok over similar national security concerns. However, he now says he has a “warm spot” for the app.
TikTok was introduced to the international market in 2017
Originally launched in China as Douyin in 2016, TikTok was introduced to the international market in 2017. It continues to face global scrutiny over data privacy issues and its potential links to the Chinese government.
AFP
