TikTok Service Restoration Underway for U.S. Users
The social media platform begins reactivation amidst regulatory challenges in the U.S. and EU scrutiny.
TikTok has initiated the process of restoring its services to users in the United States, according to an announcement by the company operating the video-sharing platform.
The announcement was made on Sunday via social media.
After being removed from platforms like Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store due to compliance actions by tech companies, the service is slowly becoming accessible again, though the popular mobile application remains unavailable.
The platform discontinued its service in the United States late Saturday night, one day before an official ban was set to take effect, rendering it inaccessible to approximately 170 million American users.
Amidst these developments, Donald Trump, the newly elected president of the United States, expressed his intent on Sunday to issue an executive order granting more time for TikTok's Chinese parent company to find an approved buyer, thereby preventing a permanent U.S. ban.
This announcement was made on Trump's own social media platform, Truth Social.
TikTok publicly expressed gratitude towards Donald Trump for this intervention.
Meanwhile, the administration of outgoing President Joe Biden had contributed to the implementation of the nationwide ban but indicated plans not to enforce it before President Trump's inauguration on Monday.
This turn of events is reminiscent of a similar attempt by President Trump during his first term, which began in 2020, involving executive orders targeting both TikTok and the Chinese messaging app WeChat.
While there was initial congressional support for a ban, Trump later opposed the enactment of such legislation.
Subsequently, Trump credited TikTok for helping him gain popularity among younger voters in the presidential election.
In a related development, the European Union initiated proceedings against TikTok in December over concerns regarding alleged interference in Romania's elections.
Intelligence reports had revealed the sudden activation of around 25,000 TikTok accounts weeks prior to the first round of elections, where the ultranationalist and pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu was unexpectedly successful.
These election results were subsequently annulled.
The announcement was made on Sunday via social media.
After being removed from platforms like Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store due to compliance actions by tech companies, the service is slowly becoming accessible again, though the popular mobile application remains unavailable.
The platform discontinued its service in the United States late Saturday night, one day before an official ban was set to take effect, rendering it inaccessible to approximately 170 million American users.
Amidst these developments, Donald Trump, the newly elected president of the United States, expressed his intent on Sunday to issue an executive order granting more time for TikTok's Chinese parent company to find an approved buyer, thereby preventing a permanent U.S. ban.
This announcement was made on Trump's own social media platform, Truth Social.
TikTok publicly expressed gratitude towards Donald Trump for this intervention.
Meanwhile, the administration of outgoing President Joe Biden had contributed to the implementation of the nationwide ban but indicated plans not to enforce it before President Trump's inauguration on Monday.
This turn of events is reminiscent of a similar attempt by President Trump during his first term, which began in 2020, involving executive orders targeting both TikTok and the Chinese messaging app WeChat.
While there was initial congressional support for a ban, Trump later opposed the enactment of such legislation.
Subsequently, Trump credited TikTok for helping him gain popularity among younger voters in the presidential election.
In a related development, the European Union initiated proceedings against TikTok in December over concerns regarding alleged interference in Romania's elections.
Intelligence reports had revealed the sudden activation of around 25,000 TikTok accounts weeks prior to the first round of elections, where the ultranationalist and pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu was unexpectedly successful.
These election results were subsequently annulled.
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