TikTok Resumes Operations in the US After Temporary Ban: And it is Thanks to President Trump

TikTok has resumed its services in the United States after a temporary shutdown. The company announced is "in the process of restoring service" and expressed gratitude to President-elect Trump for offering the needed clarity. Users were unable to access TikTok last night due to an impending federal ban, but services began resuming around 12 PM ET on Sunday.

Upon reopening the app, users are greeted with a message stating, "Welcome back!" This message attributes the restoration of service to Trump's efforts. A pop-up also appears, acknowledging that TikTok's return is thanks to Trump. The app's hosting provider, Oracle, and CDN partner, Akamai, have restored services based on Trump's assurances.

App Store Availability and Legal Concerns

Despite TikTok's return, it remains unavailable on Apple's App Store and Google Play. Both platforms display messages explaining the app's absence when searched for. These companies might still be wary of violating the ban, which imposes hefty fines for non-compliance.

The legal status of the ban has been uncertain recently. TikTok lost a Supreme Court case on Friday, allowing the ban to proceed. However, enforcement was deferred by the Biden administration, stating it would be up to the next administration to implement it.

Political Reactions and Future Plans

Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts have criticised attempts to delay the ban's implementation beyond January 19th. They commended major tech companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft for removing TikTok from their stores. Cotton warned that companies aiding TikTok could face substantial fines from various entities.

Trump announced plans to issue an executive order extending TikTok's sale timeline once he assumes office. He assured that there would be "no liability" for companies supporting TikTok before his order takes effect. The incoming president also mentioned a potential joint venture involving current or new owners with U.S. holding 50% ownership.

TikTok's Communication with Advertisers

TikTok informed advertisers that its service would soon be available for most U.S. users. The company indicated that ad campaigns would resume but with some limitations on live campaigns. This communication reflects TikTok's confidence in its continued presence in the U.S.

In a bid to avoid the ban, TikTok CEO Shou Chew attempted to appeal to Trump through a video message before the deadline. Additionally, TikTok issued multiple statements crediting Trump with aiding in service restoration.

Uncertain Future for ByteDance-linked Apps

The partial return of TikTok leaves questions about other ByteDance-related apps like CapCut and Marvel Snap that remain inaccessible to users. There have been no updates regarding these apps' status or responses from involved parties such as Google, Apple, Amazon, Oracle, and Akamai.

TikTok released a statement expressing gratitude towards President Trump for providing clarity and assurance against penalties for their service providers. The statement emphasised support for the First Amendment and opposition to arbitrary censorship while committing to work with Trump on a long-term solution keeping TikTok operational in the U.S.

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