After nearly a month of absence, TikTok has made a dramatic return to Apple and Google app stores, AFP journalists confirmed on Thursday. The reinstatement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump, in his second term, ordered a 75-day pause on enforcing a controversial security law that had forced the app’s removal.
The Chinese-owned social media giant vanished from app stores on January 18, causing widespread dismay among millions of users. The ban, enacted under former President Joe Biden, was driven by national security concerns over the app’s data collection practices and its potential exploitation by the Chinese government for espionage or influence operations.
The law mandated TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership or face a complete ban in the U.S. President Trump has since floated the idea of a joint venture between ByteDance and U.S. companies, though specific details remain unclear.
“Essentially, with TikTok, I have the right to either sell it or close it,” Trump stated, adding that while Chinese approval may be required, he is confident in securing it, warning of potential tariff repercussions otherwise.
Despite the pause, the law remains officially in effect, with companies facing penalties of up to $5,000 per user if the app is accessed in violation of the order.
TikTok’s return marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing tension between the U.S. and China over data privacy and digital security. The app, launched as Douyin in China in 2016 and internationally as TikTok in 2017, continues to face global scrutiny over its operations and ownership ties.
As debates around data privacy and national security intensify, TikTok’s fate in the U.S. remains uncertain, with potential regulatory battles still looming on the horizon.
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