Washington: TikTok has made a return to Apple and Google app stores nearly a month after a newly enacted security law forced its removal.

According to reports, the Chinese-owned social media platform continues to face the possibility of being banned in the United States due to national security concerns regarding the data it gathers on its users.

The popular video-sharing app briefly went dark on the evening of 18 January, disappearing from app stores to the dismay of millions of users. The service was restored following the inauguration of the new US President, Donald Trump, who subsequently ordered a 75-day pause on enforcing the law that had been signed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, and overwhelmingly passed by Congress.

Despite Trump’s directive, Apple and Google had not reinstated TikTok on their app stores until now.

Concerns over national security

The TikTok ban was enacted due to concerns that the Chinese government could exploit the app to spy on American citizens or covertly influence public opinion in the United States through data collection and content manipulation.

The law ordered ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to divest from the company or face a complete ban in the US.

Trump’s position on TikTok

President Trump has suggested a potential joint venture between the United States and ByteDance, though he has not provided further details on how this could be achieved.

“Essentially, with TikTok, I have the right to either sell it or close it,” Trump said shortly after ordering the pause.

“We may have to get an approval from China too... but I'm sure they'll approve it, or that would be a hostile act,” he added, warning that such a move could be met with retaliatory tariffs.

Despite the temporary pause in enforcement, the law remains officially in effect. Companies that violate its provisions face penalties of up to $5,000 per user if the app is accessed within the United States.

A shift in Trump’s stance

During his first term in office, Trump had attempted to ban TikTok over similar national security concerns. However, he has since stated that he now has a “warm spot” for the app.

Background and global scrutiny

Originally launched in 2016 as Douyin for the Chinese market, the international version of the app was named TikTok and released in 2017. Since then, the platform has faced intense scrutiny from governments worldwide over concerns regarding data privacy and its potential ties to the Chinese government.

AFP