TikTok is Working Again in the U.S., But Still Removed From App Store

[MacRumors]

Well, that didn't last long. Less than a day after TikTok became temporarily unavailable in the U.S., the app is now functional again. In an in-app notice, TikTok says the app has been restored "as a result of President Trump's efforts."

Last year, the U.S. passed a law that required Chinese company ByteDance to divest its ownership of TikTok due to potential national security risks, or else the social media platform would be banned. That law went into effect today. TikTok is still owned by ByteDance, so Apple removed the app from the App Store in the U.S., pursuant to the law.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump today said that he "will issue an executive order on Monday" that allows for more time before the U.S. law banning TikTok is enforced. Trump said the order will "also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order."

Trump will be sworn in as the 47th U.S. President on Monday, and Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly plans to attend the inauguration.

Based on Trump's promise, Apple may or may not be safe to restore availability of the TikTok app on the App Store in the U.S., after pulling it on late Saturday. Apple has yet to re-list the app, and it may be waiting to see how the situation unfolds. Apple potentially faced billions of dollars in fines had it kept TikTok available in the App Store in the U.S., so it is obviously navigating this situation extremely carefully due to the risks.

In a support document published today, Apple said it is "obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates."

"Pursuant to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, apps developed by ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries — including TikTok, CapCut, Lemon8, and others — will no longer be available for download or updates on the App Store for users in the United States starting January 19, 2025," wrote Apple.

The outgoing White House administration declined to intervene.

TikTok remains available in the App Store in other countries.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: TikTok is Working Again in the U.S., But Still Removed From App Store

 

[hieranonymous]

Trump created the ban then gave himself credit for negotiating its postponement. Textbook narcissistic manipulation. Meanwhile his mouthpieces are claiming the ban was Biden’s idea. 🤦‍♂️

 

[jdavid_rp]

Im not from USA, but wasn’t during Trumps presidency when this TikTok thing started?

 

[contacos]

The Dems continue to make flop decisions and keep on handing everything to the Reps.

edit: just to be clear, I do not support the Reps at all (in fact, I am not even in the US). I am just saying the Dems are acting dumb

 

[Kylo83]

kinda think its better for everyone having tic Tok being banned but I support free speech, trump hasn't even started yet and he has done more than someone else

 

[SW3029]

Free speech and 170 million Americans and 7 million small American businesses win 💪💪💪💪💪💪

 

[aidler]

They can not return it to the App Store because that would violate the law. TikTok, on the other hand, is now openly violating the law. The assurances of the upcoming president mean nothing regarding the validity of the law.

 

[willzyx]

lol, now Trump will take full credit for rescuing the hostages and now TikTok.

 

[DENZIE]

Sounds like a dictatorship. All the power in 1 dude. Before he’s even in power.

Sounds like something out of their supposed ‘foreign adversary’s” playbook.

 

[Jamie0003]

kinda think its better for everyone having tic Tok being banned but I support free speech, trump hasn't even started yet and he has done more than someone else

Trump initiated the ban, by the way 😂

 

[CapitalIdea]

Im not from USA, but wasn’t during Trumps presidency when this TikTok thing started?

Yes. Right after a bunch of tiktok users reserved seats at some silly rally and didn’t actually come, he got upset and demanded the app be banned. Back then it was “election interference,” then it became “a national security threat” when people needed to change the subject from inflation and Luigi.

 

[willzyx]

Im not from USA, but wasn’t during Trumps presidency when this TikTok thing started?

It wasn't just during Trump's presidency when it started. It was Trump himself who was the first person to actually start this idea.

 

[CarAnalogy]

 

[gretafour]

When China banned Facebook in 2009, they just blocked it and it's been blocked ever since. None of this political nonsense. The ban was always part of Trump's strategy to make problems on which he can campaign

 

[CapitalIdea]

They can not return it to the App Store because that would violate the law. TikTok, on the other hand, is now openly violating the law. The assurances of the upcoming president mean nothing regarding the validity of the law.

Correct, it DOES violate the law, because Trump’s EO is meaningless, and the law as written says he has to deliver, in writing, a better plan for sale to even pause the ban. But for some reason Trump supporters literally believe he can just wave a wand. It’s amazing how they don’t know how their own country operates at the most basic level.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Correct, it DOES violate the law, because Trump’s EO is meaningless, and the law as written says he has to deliver, in writing, a better plan for sale to even pause the ban. But for some reason Trump supporters literally believe he can just wave a wand. It’s amazing how they don’t know how their own country operates at the most basic level.

But the Supreme Court made Trump a king. I fear this is only the beginning...

😞

 

[Minato1990]

Trump created the ban then gave himself credit for negotiating its postponement. Textbook narcissistic manipulation. Meanwhile his mouthpieces are claiming the ban was Biden’s idea. 🤦‍♂️

America showing us once again
Its level of stupidity know no boundaries especially if them tik tokers applaud Trump as their savior now
This generation is cooked beyond recognition

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

Did Trump get his bribe? Because it’s all pay to play, now.

 

[jz0309]

and it will stay off the App Store until there is something in writing from POTUS that will say something to that effect.

 

[Berti10]

Trump in 2016: „..China..“„..China..“„..China..“„..China..“, creates Ban that Huawai and others cannot use android anymore.

Trump in 2025: „oh, a Chinese Spy app, yes please!“

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Did Trump get his bribe? Because it’s all pay to play, now.

Yes, China gave him a 75% discount for Happy Times Massage Parlor.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Was quite entertained by the TikTok influencers having a meltdown on YouTube.

Obviously scared of having to, I don’t know, find a real job?

 

[Kottu]

So, an app which is banned in China, collects all data and serve it to the Chinese Government is not getting banned in the west. I love the way India did. Just banned all the apps which sends data over to china.

 

[jz0309]

TikTok is now violating the law - until there is something in writing from POTUS ...
Edit: maybe not, not sure what exactly the law says about the "service" being available, or not ...

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Free speech and 170 million Americans and 7 million small American businesses win 💪💪💪💪💪💪

Free speech means I get to decide how to voice my speech, not the government.

If you have to use "approved services" to have free speech, you don't have free speech.

Disclaimer: I've never used TikTok.