TikTok returned to the U.S. app shops of Apple and Google on Thursday as President Donald Trump delayed a ban on the Chinese language-owned social media app and warranted the tech giants they’d not be fined for distributing or sustaining it.
The favored quick video app utilized by almost half of all People went darkish briefly final month, earlier than a regulation took impact on January 19 that requires its Chinese language proprietor ByteDance both to promote it on nationwide safety grounds or face a ban.
The next day, Trump signed an government order searching for to delay the enforcement of the ban by 75 days, permitting TikTok to proceed its operations within the U.S. briefly.
Though TikTok resumed service after Trump’s assurances, Google and Apple stored the app faraway from their U.S. app shops.
TikTok, the second-most downloaded app within the U.S. final yr, mentioned on Thursday that its newest app was now out there for obtain.
The delay might have been as a result of Google and Apple had been awaiting assurances that they’d not be prosecuted for internet hosting or distributing the app, in line with analysts.
Trump’s directive mentioned the businesses, which run cell utility shops or digital marketplaces the place customers can browse, obtain and replace apps, wouldn’t face penalties for conserving the TikTok app up and working.
TikTok had greater than 52 million downloads in 2024, in line with market intelligence agency Sensor Tower.
About 52% of its whole downloads had been from Apple App Retailer, whereas 48% had been from Google Play within the U.S. final yr, Sensor Tower mentioned.
The regulation that requires ByteDance to promote TikTok’s U.S. belongings or finally face a ban was signed by then President Joe Biden final April, triggered by nationwide safety issues and fears that China might use the video-sharing app to spy on American customers.
The U.S. has by no means banned a significant social media platform and the regulation that handed final yr provides the federal government sweeping authority to ban or search the sale of different Chinese language-owned apps.
Trump mentioned on Thursday that his 75-day deadline on TikTok could possibly be prolonged.
The turmoil at TikTok attracted a number of potential patrons, together with former Los Angeles Dodgers proprietor Frank McCourt, who’ve expressed curiosity within the fast-growing enterprise that analysts estimate could possibly be price as a lot as $50 billion.
Trump has mentioned that he was in talks with a number of individuals over TikTok’s buy and would possible have a call on the app’s future in February.
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