In a reversal of a long-awaited ban on social media platform TikTok, the company was made available to some US users on Sunday, after several days of uncertainty surrounding its future in the country. This decision follows an announcement from President-elect Donald Trump, stating that he would sign an executive order on Monday to delay the federal ban on the app scheduled to take effect on Sunday.
As of Sunday, despite being removed from Apple and Google’s app stores and having its access blocked to millions of users, TikTok continued to be available to a limited extent. The platform could be accessed through mobile apps and desktops for users who managed to stay connected ahead of the ban. This indicates that users may have successfully circumvented some of the blockage put into place, although it remains unclear for how long.
Prior to Sunday’s developments, a law banning the use of TikTok was set to come into effect on Sunday as ByteDance, the China-based owner of TikTok, had yet to meet the necessary requirements by selling the company to a non-Chinese entity. However, on Friday, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision, solidifying the law that would penalize third-party internet service providers, including Apple and Google, for supporting the app after the ban.
It has now been stated that TikTok’s service will be reinstated with immediate effect, in response to Trump’s decision to extend the delay period. This temporary reprieve effectively stays the ban until Monday when the President-elect will take office. Furthermore, TikTok plans to reach an agreement with Trump to achieve a more long-term resolution that maintains its presence in the United States while allowing for the concerns surrounding national security and ownership to be addressed.
Nonetheless, concerns regarding the laws regulating the app remain unresolved, particularly since Trump’s suggestion that he prefers the US to own 50% of TikTok, amidst the owners of the platform, ByteDance, persistently rejecting possible takeover deals. It is expected that any possible solutions, including TikTok’s commitment to resolve its divestment issues with Trump’s administration, may bring temporary relief for now, however; only time would be able to verify if they hold permanent consequences for TikTok and for its global presence in the USA.
