After more than 12 hours of being offline in the United States, TikTok, the popular video-sharing platform, is back up and running.
“According to information provided by our service partners, TikTok is in the process of restoring functionality,” the company stated. “We appreciate President Trump for providing the clarity and assurances necessary to our providers, ensuring they will not face sanctions for making TikTok accessible to over 170 million U.S. users and supporting the success of more than 7 million small businesses.”
On Sunday, legislation was set to take effect requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app or face a ban in the U.S. This regulation would also prohibit U.S. companies from participating in the app’s distribution, support, or updates.
With Donald Trump preparing to take office as president, the outgoing administration of Joe Biden, along with the Department of Justice, decided to leave the implementation of the measure to the incoming administration. TikTok warned that its “essential service providers” required official confirmation to avoid halting operations. In the absence of such confirmation, the app stopped working Saturday night and was removed from Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
On Sunday morning, Donald Trump announced he would issue an executive order to delay the ban, stating that he wanted TikTok to return as soon as possible so Americans could enjoy the inauguration ceremony on Monday. He also assured that his order would protect companies involved in keeping TikTok operational before its issuance.
This decision appeared to be sufficient to reassure TikTok and its providers. As the company’s statement was released, several TechCrunch writers reported that the app was already operational again. However, as of 1:05 p.m. Eastern time, the app was still unavailable on Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
The situation sparked divided opinions. Republican Senator Tom Cotton criticized the move, claiming that any company supporting TikTok’s distribution under communist control could face significant financial sanctions.
Meanwhile, Trump expressed his preference for an agreement that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the U.S., suggesting a strategic partnership between current and potential new owners, with the U.S. holding a 50% stake.
In its statement, TikTok pledged to work with President Trump to find a long-term solution that ensures the platform’s presence in the country.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director