TikTok has resumed its operations in the US less than 24 hours after announcing a complete shutdown in compliance with a new law citing national security concerns. The platform’s reactivation follows statements from returning president Donald Trump, who pledged to extend the timeframe for addressing the app’s regulatory issues and proposed a joint ownership model involving a 50% US stake.
The suspension of TikTok’s services began late Saturday when the app ceased functioning for US users and was removed from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This disruption came as a law banning the app took effect, prompted by allegations that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, could misuse American user data.
STATEMENT FROM TIKTOK:
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 providing TikTok to over 170…
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) January 19, 2025
TikTok confirmed the phased reactivation, with some basic functionalities resuming on Sunday, but remained unavailable for download on US platforms. The company expressed gratitude to Trump for his assurances, which reportedly alleviated concerns among service providers about potential legal repercussions for supporting the platform’s operations.
Trump’s decision marks a significant shift from his earlier stance on TikTok during his first term, when he pushed for a complete ban over data privacy concerns. In recent remarks, he attributed this to the platform’s influence in connecting with younger voters during the 2024 election. Nevertheless, the plan to save TikTok has faced resistance within Trump’s party, with Republican senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts insisting on a full divestiture by ByteDance to sever ties with China.
Thank you for your support for CapCut. Please contact us at capcut.support@bytedance.com if your account becomes unavailable due to the ban. Our customer service team will reply as soon as possible, and will continue providing support after January 19. We will do our best to…
— CapCut (@capcutapp) January 19, 2025
Other ByteDance-owned applications, including CapCut, Lemon8 and popular mobile game Marvel Snap, remain unavailable in the US, suggesting a more cautious approach to their potential reinstatement. Trump has reiterated his intent to finalise a deal that addresses national security concerns while allowing TikTok to operate under stricter oversight. As of now, the app’s full functionality is yet to be restored, and its availability on major app stores remains pending.
(Source: TikTok [via X] / Reuters)
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