TikTok Service Restored After Trump Announces Executive Order Delay
TikTok is in the process of restoring service after President-elect Donald Trump indicated an executive order would delay the planned US ban on the Chinese-owned app.
Key Points:
* Trump seeks 50% US ownership of the Chinese-controlled platform.
* The app went inactive following a Supreme Court ruling upholding a law requiring ByteDance to sell or risk a ban.
* TikTok confirms restoration of access in collaboration with service providers.
Trump's Executive Order
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced his intent to issue an executive order on Monday that would extend the deadline for ByteDance to divest or face the ban.
The order would also absolve companies from liability for enabling TikTok's functionality before the executive order's implementation.
Trump's Proposed US Ownership
Trump proposed a joint venture that would grant the US a 50% ownership stake in TikTok. This, he believes, would "save TikTok" from the ban.
App Store Availability
Despite Trump's announcement, TikTok remained unavailable on Google Play Store and App Store in the US early Sunday afternoon.
Parent Company Divestment
As per a law passed by Congress and signed by President Biden, ByteDance was required to divest TikTok by January 19, 2025, over national security concerns.
Chinese Options
Chinese officials prefer ByteDance to retain control of TikTok but have discussed alternative options, including allowing a non-Chinese entity to acquire the US operations.