TikTok is back on Apple and Google app stores in the United States after being removed nearly a month ago due to a national security law. The app's return on Thursday (February 13) follows a letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, assuring the tech giants they would not face prosecution for hosting the app.
The removal of TikTok from app stores occurred on January 19, when a law banning the app, due to its ties to ByteDance, a Beijing-based company, took effect. The law, upheld by the Supreme Court, aimed to prevent potential data misuse by the Chinese government. However, President Donald Trump issued an executive order delaying the enforcement of the ban for 75 days, allowing TikTok to resume operations while discussions about its sale continue.
According to NPR, the assurance from Bondi was enough for Apple and Google to reinstate TikTok, despite the legal risks. The law imposes fines of $5,000 per user for companies doing business with TikTok, but Trump's executive order instructed the Department of Justice not to hold companies liable.
The app's return is a relief for millions of American users and content creators who rely on the platform. However, the ban could still take effect if ByteDance does not sell TikTok's U.S. operations by the new deadline of April 5. Potential buyers, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok's U.S. operations.
While TikTok is available again, its long-term future remains uncertain. The app continues to face scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and regulators, and China opposes any attempt to transfer TikTok's technology to foreign buyers.