TikTok is back online for millions of U.S. users after President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to lift the ban on the popular video-sharing platform once he takes office.
The company confirmed the restoration of service in a statement issued on Sunday. “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” the company said. “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 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.”
Trump also confirmed his intent to issue an executive order after his inauguration, extending the time frame for TikTok to address U.S. national security concerns. This move would allow the platform additional time to reduce its ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and explore potential partnerships with American investors.
The President-elect emphasized that this decision aims to safeguard U.S. national security while enabling the platform to continue its operations. He also assured companies such as Google and Apple, which host TikTok in their app stores, that they would not face penalties for providing access to the app.
While Trump did not provide a specific timeline for ByteDance to restructure its ownership of TikTok, he expressed support for the idea of a joint venture involving the Chinese company and new American investors. This approach is seen as a compromise to balance economic interests with security concerns.
TikTok’s services had been interrupted earlier on Sunday due to a federal law requiring the platform to sever its connections with ByteDance. This law, enacted under the guise of addressing national security risks, prompted TikTok’s temporary suspension in the U.S.
The platform’s return signals a temporary reprieve for its vast U.S. user base and the small businesses that rely on it for outreach. However, TikTok still faces significant hurdles as it works to comply with the legal requirements and negotiate a deal to restructure its ownership.
The Biden administration had initiated efforts to resolve the controversy surrounding TikTok’s ownership, and Trump’s announcement marks a continuation of that process. As negotiations progress, TikTok’s future in the U.S. will depend on whether the company can meet the demands of regulators while maintaining its foothold in one of its largest markets.
