TikTok Becomes Accessible Again in the United States
TikTok has once again become available in the United States. Newly elected President Donald Trump announced the app’s reinstatement following his return to power. This was reported by Reuters.
On January 19, during a rally on the eve of his inauguration, Trump stated that they had no other choice and must save TikTok. Just hours earlier, TikTok had already expressed gratitude to Trump.
According to Reuters, TikTok has over 170 million users in the U.S. The app had been removed from Apple and Google app stores due to a decision signed by former President Joe Biden in April of the previous year. The decision prohibited American companies from providing content to the Chinese social media platform unless it was sold to a buyer from the U.S. or its allies.
The law banning TikTok took effect on January 19, citing national security threats as the reason. U.S. officials warned that, given the Chinese parent company ByteDance’s control, there were risks of American data being misused.
Trump announced plans to extend the implementation period of the restrictions outlined by the law to negotiate a deal ensuring the protection of national security.
On January 13, Bloomberg reported that representatives of the Chinese app TikTok denied rumors that ByteDance Ltd. might sell TikTok to Elon Musk. It was noted that the Chinese government wanted Musk to take control of a TikTok US version specifically created for the United States. In that case, the app could merge with the X platform (formerly Twitter). Discussions about Musk purchasing TikTok arose in the U.S. due to high-ranking Chinese officials seeking to establish ties with Trump’s upcoming administration and its allies.