TikTok announced on Sunday that it would be reinstating its services for US users, following a temporary blockage the previous evening.
According to a statement, the video-sharing platform was restored after President-elect Donald Trump provided the required assurances to TikTok’s service providers.
“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” TikTok said in a post on X.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.”
“It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States,” the company added.
In a surprising turn of events, Trump took to Truth Social just hours before TikTok’s service blockage in the US, advocating for the platform to remain
Trump had previously mentioned that he would “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day extension on Inauguration Day.
“I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order,” Trump wrote.
TikTok remains unavailable for download from Apple’s and Google’s app stores. A law banning the app was set to take effect Sunday, but it includes a provision allowing the president to grant a 90-day extension, provided certain conditions are met.
The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a non-Chinese buyer to avoid a ban.
The restriction has sparked concerns among TikTok users, with some expressing their disappointment and frustration on social media.
