TikTok resumes US services as potential ban looms

TikTok had been the subject of a law passed earlier this year that required TikTok’s sale in order for the company to continue operating in the US, following accusations about the social media platform’s alleged connection to the Chinese government.

The law was signed into law in April by US president Joe Biden after being proposed by the US congress and set a deadline of 19th January to agree its sale to a non-Chinese company or face a ban.

TikTok had appealed to the US Supreme Court against the law, arguing the proposed ban would contravene the first amendment of the US constitution, which broadly covers the right to freedom of speech.

However, after the Supreme Court rejected its appeal, TikTok withdrew from the US on Saturday 18^th January, ahead of the implementation of the ban.

Donald Trump, who is due to be inaugurated as president today (Monday 21^st January), however, has called for TikTok to be temporarily reinstated, and has said he would use an executive order to delay the sanctions against the company.

TikTok is owned by Chinese firm Bytedance and has faced accusations from some politicians about its links to the Chinese government, and avoided a previous attempt to ban the app during Trump’s first presidency.

However, TikTok has repeatedly denied it is under Chinese government influence and has said it operates independently.

The social media platform, which has 170 million users in the US, has headquarters in Singapore and Los Angeles and says that its US user data is handled by US firm Oracle.

A statement from TikTok said: “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. 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 seven million small businesses to thrive.

“It’s a strong stand for the first amendment [of the US constitution] and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with president Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”