TikTok has returned to the Apple App Store

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AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iOS edited February 13

Apple has finally returned TikTok to the App Store after receiving a letter from US Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Circular musical note logo with neon blue and red outline on black square background, symbolizing TikTok.
TikTok returning to Apple App Store



Apps controlled by Chinese company ByteDance were banned on January 19 due to failing to meet requirements set by a law. On January 20, newly inaugurated President Trump signed an executive order that aimed to restore TikTok's operation in the United States for 75 days.

The President doesn't have the authority to stop the Department of Justice from enforcing laws, so companies like Apple and Google were cautious and didn't restore the app to their app stores. According to a report from Bloomberg, the newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Apple, which has resulted in the promised return of TikTok.

Companies like Oracle that host TikTok flipped the switch enabling the app to resume operations right away on January 20. However, there was always the risk of the DOJ taking action and fining law breakers $5,000 per user.

It wasn't until the head of the DOJ, the Attorney General, gave their word that it made any difference. Now, knowing a fine isn't coming, Apple and Google can restore TikTok.

The other banned ByteDance apps, which included CapCut, Lemon8, and TikTok Studio, have been restored too. The game Marvel Snap was restored to the App Store previously due to finding a different distributor.

The legal troubles for TikTok aren't over just yet. The executive order only offers a 75-day extension, which would end on April 5, 2025.

ByteDance must still find a US buyer for TikTok for the app to continue operating in the country. That, or Congress will have to overturn the law.

Otherwise, TikTok will be banned in April, and US consumers will need to find an alternative. While Meta would love to see people flock to Instagram Reels or Threads, other apps are vying to replace TikTok using the BlueSky AT Protocol or Federation.



Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 12
    humbug1873humbug1873 Posts: 194member
    Seriously!? They trust a promise from any thug of the tRump regime. So Apple can be totally stupid indeed.
    ronnpulseimagesJanNLgrandact73
     1Like 3Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 2 of 12
    apple4thewinapple4thewin Posts: 416member
    Seriously!? They trust a promise from any thug of the tRump regime. So Apple can be totally stupid indeed.
    They trust the attorney general the guy who actually has control. 

    “It wasn't until the head of the DOJ, the Attorney General, gave their word that it made any difference. Now, knowing a fine isn't coming, Apple and Google can restore TikTok.”

    if this is true then they can’t follow legal action against Apple since a pass was given from the head.
    edited February 14
    ronnpulseimages
     1Like 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 3 of 12
    foregoneconclusionforegoneconclusion Posts: 2,952member
    apple4thewin said: They trust the attorney general the guy who actually has control. 
    Pam Bondi has changed genders? Interesting. 
    pulseimages
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 4 of 12
    sbdudesbdude Posts: 306member
    humbug1873 said:
    Seriously!? They trust a promise from any thug of the tRump regime. So Apple can be totally stupid indeed.
    tRump. So clever. 
    bonobob
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 5 of 12
    sbdudesbdude Posts: 306member
    I couldn’t care less about the data China collects on how incredibly stupid Americans can be, living out their lives on social media. Ban it from government devices, for sure, but let the fools be hoist by their own petard.
    ronnRonnyDaddypulseimagesSuntanIronMandanox
     2Likes 3Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 6 of 12
    Appleishappleish Posts: 747member
    Totally Unrelated Headline from the non-tech world:

    "Trump Family Rakes In 100+ Million Since Inauguration"

    I apologize for injecting this totally unrelated headline into this completely separate story.
    ronndanoxJanNL
     2Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 7 of 12
    bonobobbonobob Posts: 399member
    sbdude said:
    humbug1873 said:
    Seriously!? They trust a promise from any thug of the tRump regime. So Apple can be totally stupid indeed.
    tRump. So clever. 
    Should be tЯump, since he's Putin's BFF.
    dope_ahmineJanNL
     1Like 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 8 of 12
    22july201322july2013 Posts: 3,804member
    bonobob said:
    sbdude said:
    humbug1873 said:
    Seriously!? They trust a promise from any thug of the tRump regime. So Apple can be totally stupid indeed.
    tRump. So clever. 
    Should be tЯump, since he's Putin's BFF.
    The first one wasn't clever, but the second one was.
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
  • Reply 9 of 12
    foregoneconclusionforegoneconclusion Posts: 2,952member
    Appleish said:
    Totally Unrelated Headline from the non-tech world:

    "Trump Family Rakes In 100+ Million Since Inauguration"

    I apologize for injecting this totally unrelated headline into this completely separate story.
    That's what Republicans mean when they say they want to run the government like a business. They want to enrich themselves rather than serve the public at large. 
    danoxJanNL
     1Like 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 10 of 12
    jfreedle2jfreedle2 Posts: 22member
    humbug1873 said:
    Seriously!? They trust a promise from any thug of the tRump regime. So Apple can be totally stupid indeed.
    Much better than the dictatorship from the previous administration because they were just demented.
    ronn
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 11 of 12
    jfreedle2jfreedle2 Posts: 22member
    foregoneconclusion said:
    Appleish said:
    Totally Unrelated Headline from the non-tech world:

    "Trump Family Rakes In 100+ Million Since Inauguration"

    I apologize for injecting this totally unrelated headline into this completely separate story.
    That's what Republicans mean when they say they want to run the government like a business. They want to enrich themselves rather than serve the public at large. 
    Better than the complete corruption from the previous crime family running the country.
    ronn
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 12 of 12
    jfreedle2jfreedle2 Posts: 22member
    AppleInsider said:

    Apple has finally returned TikTok to the App Store after receiving a letter from US Attorney General Pam Bondi.

    Circular musical note logo with neon blue and red outline on black square background, symbolizing TikTok.
    TikTok returning to Apple App Store



    Apps controlled by Chinese company ByteDance were banned on January 19 due to failing to meet requirements set by a law. On January 20, newly inaugurated President Trump signed an executive order that aimed to restore TikTok's operation in the United States for 75 days.

    The President doesn't have the authority to stop the Department of Justice from enforcing laws, so companies like Apple and Google were cautious and didn't restore the app to their app stores. According to a report from Bloomberg, the newly appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Apple, which has resulted in the promised return of TikTok.

    Companies like Oracle that host TikTok flipped the switch enabling the app to resume operations right away on January 20. However, there was always the risk of the DOJ taking action and fining law breakers $5,000 per user.

    It wasn't until the head of the DOJ, the Attorney General, gave their word that it made any difference. Now, knowing a fine isn't coming, Apple and Google can restore TikTok.

    The other banned ByteDance apps, which included CapCut, Lemon8, and TikTok Studio, have been restored too. The game Marvel Snap was restored to the App Store previously due to finding a different distributor.

    The legal troubles for TikTok aren't over just yet. The executive order only offers a 75-day extension, which would end on April 5, 2025.

    ByteDance must still find a US buyer for TikTok for the app to continue operating in the country. That, or Congress will have to overturn the law.

    Otherwise, TikTok will be banned in April, and US consumers will need to find an alternative. While Meta would love to see people flock to Instagram Reels or Threads, other apps are vying to replace TikTok using the BlueSky AT Protocol or Federation.



    Read on AppleInsider

    Nothing worthwhile posted on TikTok anyway. I am looking forward to the garbage going away.
    danox
     0Likes 1Dislike 0Informatives
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