TikTok is back on Apple and Google app stores after Donald Trump postponed its ban until the 5th of April, assuring companies they wouldn’t face penalties for hosting the Chinese-owned platform.
Reuters reports the short-video app, with 170 million US users, began restoring services after weeks of downtime, following Trump’s pledge to reinstate access before his inauguration.
Last month’s executive order delayed the ban by 75 days, giving TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, a temporary lifeline to continue operations in the US.
The directive also confirmed that app store operators wouldn’t be penalised for distributing or maintaining TikTok.
Despite the uncertainty, TikTok remains a powerhouse – ranking as the second most downloaded app in the US with 52 million installs in 2024, according to Sensor Tower. Of those, 52% came from the Apple App Store, while 48% were from Google Play.
US President Donald Trump.
TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has been at the centre of a geopolitical tug-of-war. The US government first raised concerns over national security, alleging that TikTok could funnel user data to the Chinese government or be used as a propaganda tool.
Earlier reports suggested Elon Musk might buy TikTok’s US operations, with Chinese officials allegedly considering selling the platform to Musk as a way to avoid the outright ban in the US. TikTok, of course, has dismissed the claims as baseless, calling them “pure fiction”, but the prospect of Musk entering the mix has set tongues wagging.
Meanwhile, in Australia the app has its own set of challenges. In 2023, the Australian government banned the app from government-issued devices, citing concerns over data security and potential foreign interference. This aligns with similar moves by the US and Europe, reflecting a broader global scepticism about TikTok’s Chinese ownership.