2 weeks Ago By Theunis Jansen van Rensburg
Less than a day after TikTok went offline in the US, ByteDance announced on Sunday that the app is being restored. In a statement posted on X, TikTok shared, “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service.” Read: Nintendo unveils Switch 2 with enhanced design and backward compatibility The company also extended gratitude to President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on Monday.
Trump previously hinted at granting TikTok an extension amid speculation about potential buyers, though ByteDance has shown no interest in selling. “We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States,” the statement added. As of this writing, TikTok appears to be operational for some users, although it remains unavailable on the App Store and Google Play Store.
If the app has been deleted from your device, you may need to wait for its reinstatement to redownload it. ByteDance’s CapCut app, which was also affected by the ban, remains inaccessible in app stores. The law banning TikTok was set to take effect on January 19, but the outgoing Biden administration clarified that it would not enforce the ban in its final hours.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre previously dismissed TikTok’s shutdown threat as “a stunt,” adding, “We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump Administration takes office.” STATEMENT FROM TIKTOK: In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170.
.. TikTok argued it could not continue operating without assurances that service providers would not face penalties under the law.
On Sunday, Trump posted on Truth Social urging companies to keep TikTok online: “I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period before the law’s prohibitions take effect so we can make a deal to protect national security. The order will confirm no liability for companies helping keep TikTok operational before my order.” Trump also outlined his vision for TikTok’s future, proposing a 50% US ownership stake in a joint venture, stating, “By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to stay up.
Without U.S. approval, there is no TikTok.
” According to NPR’s Bobby Allyn, Trump’s statement reassured TikTok’s web providers, Oracle and Akamai, who began restoring service. However, Apple and Google have yet to approve TikTok’s return to their app stores, citing obligations to follow local laws. With penalties for non-compliance potentially reaching billions of dollars, app store operators and service providers remain cautious, leaving TikTok’s long-term future in the US uncertain.
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