Russia, Kazan May 30, 2019: Tik Tok application icon on Apple iPhone X screen close-up. Tik Tok icon. tik tok application. Tiktok Social media network. Social media icon
TikTok is set to restore its services to its 170 million users in the United States after President-elect Donald Trump announced he would grant the app a reprieve upon taking office on Monday.
The Chinese-owned app ceased operations for American users on Sunday amid concerns that user data could be accessed by Chinese officials. However, TikTok later confirmed it was in the process of “restoring service” just hours after going dark in the US.
In a statement, TikTok expressed gratitude to the president-elect for “providing the necessary clarity and assurance” and pledged to work with Trump “on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
Posting on Truth Social, a social media platform he owns, Trump urged companies not to let TikTok remain offline. “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,” he said.
TikTok’s parent company, Bytedance, had previously defied a law requiring it to sell its US operations to avoid a ban. The law, upheld by the Supreme Court on Friday, went into effect on Sunday.
The platform, wildly popular among millions of US users, has also become a valuable tool for American political campaigns to reach younger voters. While Trump initially supported a TikTok ban, he has recently expressed a “warm spot” for the app, citing the billions of views his videos garnered during last year’s presidential campaign.
Under the law passed last April, the US version of the app would be removed from app stores and web-hosting services. TikTok has argued that the law violates free speech protections for its users in the country.
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Paul Femi Balo is the founder and publisher of TechBooky. He covers artificial intelligence, African technology, digital infrastructure, enterprise technology and the global digital economy.
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