Apple and Google restored Tiktok after the administration shift
Apple and Google have reinstated TikTok in their app stores. The tech giants made this move on Thursday 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 U.S. app stores last month in accordance with a law enacted in 2024. However, the situation shifted with the start of Donald Trump's administration. On January 20th, he issued an order instructing the attorney general to pause enforcement of the law for 75 days, allowing time for his administration to assess the next steps.
Change in the U.S. regarding TikTok. There is an immediate move
As first reported by Bloomberg, the apps became available again in the Apple App Store and Google Play on Thursday evening.
Previously, there were weeks of uncertainty in the United States regarding the future of TikTok. There are still no guarantees that the app will be available in the country long term. This stems from Americans' anxieties that the popular app could be used for spying 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 completes a qualified sale by 19 January.
Trump had initially backed the TikTok ban in the United States but changed his stance after the presidential elections, citing that many of his supporters use the app. He acknowledged that his view of TikTok had evolved over time.
If the Chinese do not negotiate an agreement by early April regarding a solution to the app's security issues, TikTok may once again be banned in the United States. Representatives of ByteDance maintain that TikTok is not for sale. Meanwhile, Donald Trump suggested that Elon Musk purchase the app.
