TikTok is reinstating services for its 170 million users in the U.S. following President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he plans to issue an executive order to provide the app a temporary reprieve once he assumes office on Monday.
On Saturday evening, the Chinese-owned app stopped working for American users, after a law banning it on national security grounds came into effect. Trump, who had previously backed a ban of the platform, promised on Sunday to delay implementation of the law and allow more time for a deal to be made. TikTok then said that it was in the process of “restoring service”.
Users celebrate as TikTok access is restored
Soon after, the app started working again and a popup message to its millions of users thanked Trump by name. In a statement, the company thanked the incoming president for “providing the necessary clarity and assurance” and said it would work with Trump “on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the U.S.”
CEO of TikTok to attend inauguration
TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration Monday. Posting on Truth Social, a social media platform he owns, Trump said on Sunday: “I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security.”
Read more: European Union initiates investigation into TikTok amid child safety concerns
Legal background of TikTok services in U.S.
TikTok’s parent company, Bytedance, previously ignored a law requiring it to sell its U.S. operations to avoid a ban. The law was upheld by Supreme Court on Friday and went into effect on Sunday. For its part, President Joe Biden’s administration had already said that it would not enforce the law in its last hours in office and instead allow the process to play out under the incoming Trump administration.
But TikTok had pulled its services anyway on Saturday evening, before the swift restoration of access on Sunday. Under the law passed last April, the U.S. version of the app had to be removed from app stores and web-hosting services if its Chinese owner ByteDance did not sell its U.S. operations. TikTok had argued before the Supreme Court that the law violated free speech protections for its users in the country.
The law was passed with support from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress and was upheld unanimously by Supreme Court justices earlier this week.
