TikTok service restored in the US after promises that ban won't be enforced

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China-based social media site TikTok has returned from a one-day hiatus in the US, following assurances from the incoming Trump administration that it will face no penalties for restoring service to its US users now.

The ban on TikTok in the US turned out to last only one day.
The ban on TikTok in the US turned out to last only one day.



Apple and other companies temporarily took the TikTok app off their respective App Store, which complied with a law passed by Congress banning the service in the US if the parent company failed to find a US buyer by January 19th.

The short-lived ban affected numerous TikTok-related apps and services, including TikTok Studio, TikTok Shop Seller Center, CapCut, Lemon8, Hypic, Lark collaboration software, the AI study companion Gauth, and the game Marvel Snap.

At 12:27pm Eastern time, TikTok posted a note announcing the quick return on X.com. "In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service."

The post went on to imply that TikTok will continue to work with the incoming administration on a "long-term solution" to keep the service viable in the US. The post referred to the legislative ban on the service as "arbitrary censorship," and the reversal a "strong stand" for the First Amendment.

Statement from TikTok thanking President Trump for restoring service, supporting American users and businesses, standing for the First Amendment, and working on a long-term solution.
Statement from TikTok on its move to restore service in the US.



When the ban took effect, Apple had posted a bulletin on its support site clarifying how the original ban would work. According to the page, the company complied with the law and removed the app and its associated apps from the App Store.

Apple noted that users who already had the app on their mobile devices could continue to use the apps as normal, but could not redownload or restore the app if it was deleted. Had the ban persisted, users would also not have been able to update the app, which would eventually render it unworkable.

The page also noted conditions for those temporarily visiting the United States from other countries. "Users visiting from outside the United States with their Apple Account set to a country or region that is not the United States are unable to download, update, or make in-app purchases and new subscriptions inside ByteDance Ltd. apps while within the land or maritime borders of the United States."

It further noted that full functionality was restored to the TikTok app when the user left the United States. It also provided a link for users to cancel their subscription.

As of 1pm EST, Apple has not yet restored the TikTok app to its App Store. The company will likely wait to restore the app until the ban is legally reversed by the incoming administration or Congress.

TikTok, like other social services, is a frequent source of misinformation about Apple and Apple products, among other topics. In recent weeks, AppleInsider has had to publish articles debunking claims that originated from TikTok creators, claiming that AirDrop could be used to steal credit cards, and that the Photos widget could tell you who last looked at your messages on iOS.



Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 19
    This has to be the most disappointing story arc since the Night King. 
    iOS_Guy80watto_cobra
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  • Reply 2 of 19
    What’s funny is that technically the promises made so far by the incoming administration are not binding since they aren’t in office until tomorrow. So if they want to do a 180 on TikTok for whatever reason they could prosecute the company for noncompliance.
    retrogustoAlex1NiOS_Guy80williamlondonwatto_cobra
     4Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 19
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,679member
    As I predicted, he's now offering a (bad) deal to TikTok. Sigh.

    I have no feelings one way or the other about TikTok; I have never interacted with it, but I gather that the US version mostly consists of short videos of people and/or their kids/pets/unsuspecting friends being silly and/or stupid.

    But until the US government can prove in a court of law that its evidence of spying or privacy invasion or whatever else TikTok is accused of is real beyond a shadow of a doubt, the law Congress passed should be nullifed by the (equally corrupt) Supreme Court as blatantly unconstitutional. Temu is every bit as embedded in US society and is just as controlled by the Chinese government and collecting data on their users as TikTok (and Meta, and Google) are, but nobody's talking about singling out Temu for special censorship ...

    America has become a weird place, and it's getting weirder by the hour.
    avon b7jibAlex1Nthtrundhvidappleinsideruserwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 4 of 19
    So much for the rule of law
    foregoneconclusionwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 5 of 19
    chasm said: But until the US government can prove in a court of law that its evidence of spying or privacy invasion or whatever else TikTok is accused of is real beyond a shadow of a doubt, the law Congress passed should be nullifed by the (equally corrupt) Supreme Court as blatantly unconstitutional.
    The Supreme Court already unanimously upheld the legality of the ban.
    gatorguythtwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 6 of 19
    What’s funny is that technically the promises made so far by the incoming administration are not binding since they aren’t in office until tomorrow. So if they want to do a 180 on TikTok for whatever reason they could prosecute the company for noncompliance.
    Noncompliance = not being Trump-friendly enough. That's the irony of TikTok claiming it's a win for the 1st amendment. 
    sconosciutotmaywatto_cobra
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  • Reply 7 of 19
    So much for the rule of law
    Now the Trump administration can turn its attention to the pressing issues that American voters were concerned with in the election like threatening Denmark to try and force them to sell Greenland. 
    Alex1Nsconosciutowilliamlondonwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 8 of 19
    Congress said NO. Supreme court said NO. Trump said YES. He is not yet our President. A big mistake!
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 9 of 19
    sbdudesbdude Posts: 298member
    chasm said:
    As I predicted, he's now offering a (bad) deal to TikTok. Sigh.

    I have no feelings one way or the other about TikTok; I have never interacted with it, but I gather that the US version mostly consists of short videos of people and/or their kids/pets/unsuspecting friends being silly and/or stupid.

    But until the US government can prove in a court of law that its evidence of spying or privacy invasion or whatever else TikTok is accused of is real beyond a shadow of a doubt, the law Congress passed should be nullifed by the (equally corrupt) Supreme Court as blatantly unconstitutional. Temu is every bit as embedded in US society and is just as controlled by the Chinese government and collecting data on their users as TikTok (and Meta, and Google) are, but nobody's talking about singling out Temu for special censorship ...

    America has become a weird place, and it's getting weirder by the hour.
    You seem to be confused about how the US government works. Congress does not enforce laws, it creates them. They can ban whatever they like and have no burden of proof in doing so. If a law is determined to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and only if petitioned, the law is stricken. But it has been upheld. 
    gatorguybeowulfschmidtwilliamlondonwatto_cobra
     2Likes 1Dislike 1Informative
  • Reply 10 of 19
    chasmchasm Posts: 3,679member
    The Supreme Court already unanimously upheld the legality of the ban.
    I stand corrected. I wonder what the court saw/heard in the case that convinced all of them (even the corrupt ones) to vote the same way.
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 11 of 19
    chasm said:
    The Supreme Court already unanimously upheld the legality of the ban.
    I stand corrected. I wonder what the court saw/heard in the case that convinced all of them (even the corrupt ones) to vote the same way.
    There really is no question of what they heard. The government argued it was for “national security” the courts did what they almost always do when it comes “national security” they side with the government. Look at the Patriot Act after 9/11, mass surveillance of US citizens by the NSA, the maintaining of prisoners in Guantánamo Bay as just a few examples.
    sconosciutomuthuk_vanalingamwatto_cobra
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  • Reply 12 of 19
    fred1fred1 Posts: 1,147member
    It’s strange how Trump was touting a ban on TikTok during his first term and now at the last minute completely reversed his stance. And just a few days after his call with the Chinese dictator. Coincidence? I doubt it. Both have something to gain from TikTok in the US. 
    tmaysconosciutowatto_cobra
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  • Reply 13 of 19
    So nowhere in the story do they want to mention President Trump’s role in preserving TikTok, even though TikTok itself publicly credited him?

    Well here’s to four more years of misleading and inaccurate ‘journalism.’
    quakerotissconosciuto
     1Like 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 14 of 19
    eriamjheriamjh Posts: 1,789member
    Trump got his bribe.  It’s pay to play.  
    fred1sconosciutowatto_cobra
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  • Reply 15 of 19
    The American idiocy has spoken. rejoice as your TikTok views are preserved as you remain sheep and pawns between parties that couldn't care less about you.

    america is getting what its stupid populace deserves.

    May they never sit down again.
    sconosciutowatto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 16 of 19
    fred1fred1 Posts: 1,147member
    A small correction:

    The American idiocy has spoken. rejoice as your TikTok views are preserved as [we all] remain sheep and pawns between parties that couldn't care less about [any of us].

    [The world] is getting what its stupid populace deserves.

    May they never sit down again.
    I hope you don’t think this is something that happens only in America.
    muthuk_vanalingamwatto_cobra
     2Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 17 of 19
    JFC_PAjfc_pa Posts: 955member
    The law sets conditions that have yet to be met. Myself? I wouldn’t open my business to those sorts of massive liabilities. 5k$ per user? 
    watto_cobra
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  • Reply 18 of 19
    ……………………..
    edited January 20
    watto_cobra
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  • Reply 19 of 19
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,679member
    Michae1 said:
    So nowhere in the story do they want to mention President Trump’s role in preserving TikTok, even though TikTok itself publicly credited him?

    Well here’s to four more years of misleading and inaccurate ‘journalism.’
    His "executive order" is for show. I'm certain he's fully aware his order has no legal footing.
    edited January 21
    muthuk_vanalingam
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