Tik Tok was available again in the US the day a national ban went into effect for security reasons, while President-elect Donald promised to reactivate access to the popular social network.
US President-elect Donald Trump promised on Sunday that upon his return to power on Monday he would reactivate access to TikTok, which he has already announced is once again available to US users.
“As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the United States,” the platform, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, said in a message.
In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump said he would “extend the time period before the law's prohibitions go into effect, so we can reach an agreement to protect our national security.”
The popular video platform It stopped working for its 170 million American users this Sundayafter a law came into force prohibiting the application from continuing to operate due to national security concerns. The Apple and Google application stores removed it from their digital stores.
“In accordance with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” TikTok said in an earlier statement in which it also thanked Trump for “offering the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will not face sanctions (for) providing TikTok to more than 170 million Americans and allowing more than 7 million small businesses to thrive.”
TikTok's public thanks to Trump, the day before he takes office, comes at a tense time in US-China relations. Trump has said he intends to impose tariffs on China, but has also indicated that he hopes to have more direct contact with the Chinese leader.
“I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture,” Trump added in his social media message hours after posting “SAVE TIKTOK” on Truth Social.
Trump, who returns to the White House on Monday, January 20 for a second term, said the executive order would specify that there would be no liability for any company that helped prevent TikTok from being taken offline before his order.
The Republican had previously said he would most likely give TikTok a 90-day extension of the ban after taking office, a promise the company cited in a notice posted to users on the app.
Although temporary, the unprecedented shutdown of TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, will have broad repercussions on US-China relations, local politics, the social media market and millions of Americans who depend economically and culturally of the application.
“A law has been enacted prohibiting TikTok in the US,” the message notified users trying to use the app late on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to restore TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned,” the statement added. .
Trump's salvation of TikTok represents a change in position with respect to his first term. In 2020, the then-president attempted to ban the short video app over fears the company would share Americans' personal information with the Chinese government.
More recently, however, Trump said the app has “a warm place” in his heart, crediting it with helping him win over young voters in the 2024 election.
The US has never banned a major social media platform. The law passed overwhelmingly in Congress gives the incoming Trump administration broad authority to ban or seek the sale of other Chinese-owned apps.
Other ByteDance-owned apps, including video editing app CapCut and social lifestyle app Lemon8, were not available in U.S. app stores late Saturday.
TikTok warned on Friday that it would stop operating in the United States on Sunday unless Joe Biden's administration offered assurances to companies like Apple and Google that they would not face coercive measures when the ban takes effect.
Under the law passed last year and confirmed Friday by the Supreme Court, the platform had until Sunday to cut ties with its China-based parent or close its U.S. operation to resolve concerns that it poses a threat. for national security.
Minutes after TikTok closed in the United States, other users went to “wrote @RavenclawJedi.
(With information from Reuters and AP)