TikTok Makes Comeback to Apple, Google App Stores In US

Apple and Google announced that that TikTok is once again available in their app stores on Thursday, almost a month after a new security law led to its removal.

The social media platform, owned by a Chinese company, is at risk of being banned in the United States due to national security worries regarding user data it collects. The popular video-sharing app went offline for a short period starting January 18, leaving millions of users disappointed when it vanished from app stores.

The service resumed when the new US President, Donald Trump, initiated a 75-day halt on enforcing the law, signed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, and overwhelmingly passed by Congress.

However, Apple and Google had not previously made TikTok available on their app stores until now.

The decision to implement the TikTok ban arose from fears that the Chinese government might utilize the app for spying on Americans or subtly sway US public opinion via data gathering and content manipulation.

The government mandated that the company separate from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban.

Trump has proposed a joint venture between the US and ByteDance, although he has not shared specifics on how this might materialise.

“With TikTok, I have the option to either sell it or shut it down,” Trump remarked shortly after mandating the pause.

“We might need to obtain approval from China as well, but I’m confident they would consent or view it as a hostile act,” which could lead to retaliatory tariffs, he stated.

Firms that breach the law, which is still officially in place, could incur penalties of up to $5,000 per user if the app is used.

During his first term, Trump tried to prohibit TikTok in the United States over analogous national security issues but mentioned that he currently has a “soft spot” for the app.

Initially introduced in 2016 as Douyin for the Chinese audience, the international version was branded as TikTok and launched in 2017.

Governments worldwide have intensely examined the platform due to worries about data privacy and potential connections to the Chinese government.