TikTok has resumed services for its U.S. users after a brief voluntary shutdown that lasted less than a day. The company announced on Sunday that it was restoring access following assurances from President-elect Donald Trump, who indicated he would take executive action to pause the ban on the app.
In a statement, TikTok expressed gratitude to Trump for clarifying that service providers would not face penalties for continuing to offer TikTok to over 170 million Americans, emphasising the importance of First Amendment rights and opposing arbitrary censorship. The company is committed to collaborating with Trump on a long-term solution that allows TikTok to operate in the U.S.
The shutdown occurred just hours before a deadline set by legislation that required TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations or face removal from app stores and hosting services. This law was upheld by the Supreme Court, which ruled it did not infringe on free speech rights and supported concerns about data security related to China.
Trump took to social media to announce his intention to restore TikTok, stating he would sign an executive order on Monday to extend the enforcement timeline of the law. He also assured that companies assisting in keeping TikTok operational would not incur liability before his directive takes effect.
Despite the assurances from Trump, TikTok’s future remains uncertain. The law could still impose penalties on companies like Apple and Google if they facilitate TikTok’s operations without compliance. Furthermore, legislators have raised questions about Trump’s authority to delay enforcement of an active law.
During Supreme Court proceedings, TikTok’s legal representatives warned that the platform would be forced offline if the law took effect, citing difficulties in divesting under pressure from the Chinese government. The bipartisan law, passed as part of a foreign assistance package last year, has faced legal challenges from TikTok and ByteDance.
TikTok has begun restoring services online, but it is still unavailable in major app stores, creating hurdles for new users and preventing updates essential for its operation.