TikTok made a notable return to the Apple and Google app stores on Thursday evening. This development comes after the app's removal on January 18, following the enactment of a national security law aimed at mitigating the perceived risks associated with its parent company, ByteDance, and its alleged connections to the People's Republic of China. With over 170 million U.S. users, TikTok's reappearance marks a significant moment in the ongoing saga surrounding its operations in the United States.
The removal of TikTok from app stores was a direct response to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which required ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations by January 19. The U.S. government had expressed concerns that ByteDance's ownership posed a national security threat due to potential data collection practices and ties to China.
"Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok's data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary." – Supreme Court
In response to the national security law, TikTok temporarily halted its services in the U.S., causing significant disruption to its user base. Despite these challenges, the app managed to recover approximately 90% of its traffic before the law's deadline. President Donald Trump, in an attempt to "save TikTok," expressed interest in having the United States acquire a 50% ownership stake in a joint venture.
"I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture" – President Donald Trump
The Supreme Court sided with the Biden administration in January, reinforcing the requirement for ByteDance's divestiture. However, TikTok pushed back against this decision and threatened to shut down its U.S. operations unless there was government intervention. The company argued that the law infringed upon the First Amendment rights of its users.
Former President Joe Biden initially signed the law in April and later extended the divestiture deadline by 75 days to April 5. On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order extending the deadline further by another 75 days to April 5. Internet service providers such as Apple, Google, and Oracle faced potential penalties for failing to comply with the law.