In a dramatic twist of events, TikTok has been reinstated on Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store for U.S. users as of Thursday, January 25, 2025. The app was previously removed from both platforms on January 19, 2025, due to a federal law that effectively banned TikTok in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divested its ownership. The removal was a direct response to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which threatened hefty penalties of $5,000 per user—or up to $850 billion given TikTok’s claim of 170 million U.S. users—on any platform that continued to host or distribute the app. This led Apple and Google to comply with the law and remove TikTok from their U.S. stores.
However, the situation took a surprising turn on January 20, 2025, when President Trump signed an executive order instructing the U.S. attorney general to halt enforcement of the TikTok ban for a 75-day period. The order also directed the attorney general to notify TikTok’s distribution partners, including Apple and Google, that there was no violation of the statute and no liability for their actions as of January 19 and throughout the 75-day extension. According to a Bloomberg report, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent formal letters to both Apple and Google on January 25, informing them of this development. This move effectively reversed the ban and allowed TikTok to be restored on the platforms for U.S. users.
The legal and political drama surrounding TikTok began in late 2024 when President Biden signed the bipartisan divest-or-ban law, which mandated ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a U.S. ban. TikTok challenged the law in court, arguing that it violated First Amendment rights, but the Supreme Court ultimately rejected the appeal. Faced with the deadline, TikTok voluntarily shut down its app in the U.S. on January 18, 2025. However, the company quickly restored service the next day, citing President Trump’s pledge to pause enforcement of the ban while seeking a resolution to keep the app operational in the U.S. This decision was met with mixed reactions, as the 75-day pause expires on April 5, 2025, leaving significant uncertainty about the app’s future.
TikTok’s removal and subsequent reinstatement have sparked widespread confusion among users. Apple, for instance, had posted a now-deleted message on its support website on February 7, explaining that TikTok and other ByteDance apps would no longer be available for download or updates in the U.S. due to the new law. The message emphasized Apple’s obligation to comply with legal requirements in the jurisdictions where it operates. Similarly, TikTok’s shutdown on January 18 was seen as a preemptive measure to avoid legal penalties, but the app’s swift restoration underscored the fluidity of the situation and the ongoing political negotiations surrounding its fate.
At the heart of the controversy is the U.S. government’s concern over TikTok’s ties to China, particularly the risk that the Chinese Communist Party could demand data on American users or use the platform for propaganda. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed deep concerns about these risks, which led to the passage of the bipartisan law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok. Despite these concerns, President Trump has proposed alternative solutions, including a plan for ByteDance to grant the U.S. government a 50% ownership stake in a TikTok joint venture. He has also suggested that tech moguls like Oracle founder Larry Ellison or Elon Musk could be potential buyers. However, ByteDance has not indicated willingness to divest its ownership, complicating efforts to find a resolution.
ByteDance’s ownership structure adds another layer of complexity to the situation. According to the company, 60% of TikTok is owned by global institutional investors, including major firms like Blackrock, General Atlantic, and Susquehanna International Group. The remaining 40% is split equally between its Chinese founders and employees worldwide, including U.S.-based employees. This ownership structure has raised questions about the feasibility of divestment and whether a foreign government could exert influence over the app. Despite these challenges, President Trump has expressed optimism about brokering a deal within the 75-day window. However, the outcome remains highly uncertain, and the future of TikTok in the U.S. hangs in the balance as the deadline approaches.
In summary, the cycle of TikTok’s removal and reinstatement reflects the ongoing political and legal battle over the app’s operations in the U.S. While President Trump’s executive order has temporarily halted enforcement of the ban, the underlying concerns about data security and foreign influence remain unresolved. The next 75 days will be critical in determining whether TikTok can find a path to compliance with U.S. law or whether it will ultimately be forced to exit the U.S. market. For now, TikTok users in the U.S. can continue to access the app, but they may face uncertainty about its availability in the coming months.
