News
TikTok Resumes Operations in the US After Temporary Shutdown

TikTok restored its services in the United States on Sunday following a brief suspension as a law banning the app over national security concerns took effect.
The platform credited President-elect Donald Trump, set to take office on Monday, for enabling the reversal. This came despite the outgoing Biden administration stating it would not enforce the ban.
The app went offline late Saturday as ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, faced a looming deadline to sell its US operations to non-Chinese buyers.
Earlier on Sunday, millions of users expressed dismay over losing access to the app. In response, Trump promised to issue an executive order delaying the ban to allow time for a potential deal. He also proposed that the US take a 50% ownership stake in a joint venture, emphasizing that such a move could significantly increase TikTok’s valuation.
“By doing this, we save TikTok and ensure it’s in good hands,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform, despite his earlier support for banning the app during his first term in office.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), TikTok announced it was working to restore service and thanked Trump for his assurances to its service providers. By Sunday afternoon, TikTok was back online for its 170 million American users.
However, the company did not comment on Trump’s suggestion for partial US ownership. ByteDance has thus far resisted any proposals to sell its US operations.
The law allows a 90-day delay in the ban if the White House demonstrates progress toward a resolution, but it remains unclear how the situation will unfold. The Biden administration has deferred enforcement of the law to Trump’s incoming administration.
TikTok has been celebrated for its ability to turn ordinary users into viral stars, from teenage dancers to grandmothers sharing cooking tips. However, its Chinese ownership has sparked national security concerns in the US and globally, with fears of potential disinformation and data privacy risks.
The ban gained further traction on Friday when the US Supreme Court upheld the legislation requiring TikTok’s removal from app stores and blocking new downloads. Companies like Apple, Google, and Oracle are legally obligated to comply, with penalties of up to $5,000 per user for violations.
The suspension sparked reactions across platforms, with memes and debates flooding social media. American tennis star Coco Gauff, competing at the Australian Open, even referenced the shutdown by writing “RIP TikTok USA” on a courtside camera, telling reporters, “I love TikTok… hopefully it comes back.”
Meanwhile, international calls for similar actions have surfaced. Estonia’s foreign minister praised the US ban and suggested Europe consider banning TikTok as well.
Negotiations continue, with last-minute offers reportedly emerging. Start-up Perplexity AI has proposed a merger with TikTok’s US operations, while former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is also exploring a purchase. The app’s future remains uncertain as ByteDance faces mounting pressure to divest its US operations.
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