TikTok vanished from American devices after officials enforced legislation that would ban the app from U.S users. This law, upheld last week in the Supreme Court, required app stores to remove the service and barred web hosts from supporting it.
The measure, tied to fears about ByteDance’s control, was championed in part through Donald Trump’s earlier term. He argued that the Chinese-owned app posed risks to US data. His stance spurred laws that threatened to block the service for millions across the nation.
On Saturday night, TikTok went dark for roughly 14 hours. Apple and Google obeyed the directive and pulled it from their stores. Web-hosting firms also blocked essential support, fearful of legal penalties that could reach enormous sums under the newly affirmed ban.
How Did TikTok Reappear?
On Sunday morning, President-elect Trump released a single post on his Truth Social network.
He pledged to pause the law, granting a shield to tech providers while his incoming administration works out a resolution. This surprise move convinced web-hosting companies like Oracle and Akamai to restore the app.
The law’s penalties are severe, even bringing doubts among hosting services about any early reinstatement. Trump’s assurance offered them enough peace of mind to turn servers back on. Experts indicate that this short post carried weight, even though Trump has not taken office.
TikTok quickly announced its return and publicly thanked Trump. Representatives stated the president-elect helped clarify matters for the companies controlling servers, which allowed them to switch TikTok back on for an audience of over 170 million in the US.
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What Keeps Apple And Google On The Sidelines?
Although the service returned for existing users, any further downloads are still blocked. Apple and Google, operating major app stores, continue to remove TikTok from their platforms. They appear unconvinced that a temporary post on Truth Social overrides the legal directive.
Without official clearance from these companies, new installations cannot proceed. Bugs and security patches for existing downloads also hang in limbo. In-app purchases stopped functioning because updates are locked, creating frustrations for content creators and businesses reliant on digital tips.
Legal observers such as Alan Rozenshtein from the University of Minnesota Law School note that Apple and Google may be waiting for a formal guarantee. They wonder if a fresh administration can simply pause a statute already validated in court, especially since penalties could soar into billions.
Is the Lawmakers’ Stance Unified?
Some members of Congress oppose Trump’s plan to hold off on enforcement without following each part of the statute. Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton voiced disapproval, arguing that a president-elect does not have the authority to delay a law that took effect soon after the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Cotton also warned that Apple, Google, or any hosting service could face massive lawsuits. Shareholders and state attorneys general might pursue damages if these firms assist TikTok before it formally separates from ByteDance.
Others in Washington believe Trump must sign official paperwork demonstrating that a sale of TikTok is actually underway. Only then, they say, can any legal freeze on enforcement be justified. Though the next few days could bring changes, we’re yet to see what happens to the app, and whether there will be a conclusion soon enough.
