TikTok returns to app stores as Trump halts enforcement
Apple and Google have restored TikTok to their app stores. The tech giants made this decision after receiving assurances from Attorney General Pam Bondi that the app's ban in the United States would not be enforced.
Apple and Google removed TikTok from their app stores in the United States last month to comply with a law passed in 2024. However, the situation shifted with the start of Donald Trump's administration. On January 20, he issued an order instructing the attorney general to refrain from enforcing the law for 75 days, giving his administration time to assess the best course of action moving forward.
Change in the U.S. regarding TikTok. There is an immediate move
As first reported by Bloomberg, both apps were once again available in the Apple App Store and Google Play on Thursday evening.
Previously, the United States was uncertain regarding the future of TikTok. There are still no guarantees that the app will be available in the country in the long term. This concern arises from fears that the popular app could be used to spy on United States citizens, as China requires its companies to share data with the government upon request.
A TikTok representative declined to comment on the matter.
Federal regulations, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, were supported in Congress by Democrats and Republicans. President Joe Biden signed them in April 2024. The law banned TikTok unless the Chinese company ByteDance undertakes a qualified sale by January 19.
Trump had initially backed the TikTok ban in the United States but changed his position after the presidential election, explaining that a significant portion of his supporters use the app. He remarked that his view of TikTok had evolved when signing the executive order on January 20.
If the Chinese do not negotiate an agreement regarding the app's security issues by the beginning of April, TikTok may once again be banned in the United States. ByteDance representatives maintain that TikTok is not for sale. Meanwhile, Donald Trump suggested that Elon Musk purchase the app.
