TikTok has announced on X (formerly Twitter) that they began restoring services on Sunday after President Donald Trump declared he would revive the app’s access in the United States upon his return to power on Monday.
The Chinese social media app expressed gratitude to Mr. Trump for “providing the necessary clarity and assurance” shortly after it had to suspend U.S. operations to comply with the Biden administration’s ban order.
Earlier, TikTok issued a statement acknowledging that U.S. users had started regaining access to its website, while the app itself was gradually coming back online for some users with limited functionality. By Sunday evening, the app remained unavailable for download on U.S. app stores.
“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” said the ByteDance-owned app in its earlier statement, while thanking the U.S. President-elect.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties for 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 post added.
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban
On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law mandating ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to divest the video app by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban. In a unanimous decision, the court rejected TikTok’s claim that the law violated its First Amendment rights.
The ruling marked a significant moment in the ongoing debate over the app, which, despite its popularity among young Americans, is viewed by many Washington politicians as a security risk.
The justices confirmed that the law, passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority and signed by President Joe Biden, did not infringe upon the First Amendment. This decision affirmed a lower court’s ruling that upheld the law, challenged by TikTok, ByteDance, and some users of the app.
Key Points of the Supreme Court’s Ruling
- Background: TikTok, operated by TikTok Inc. in the U.S. and ultimately controlled by ByteDance Ltd. in China, faced national security scrutiny due to concerns over data collection by the Chinese government.
- Legislation: The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act explicitly targets apps like TikTok, requiring divestiture from foreign adversary control to continue U.S. operations.
- Legal Challenges: TikTok and U.S. users argued that the Act violated their First Amendment rights.
- Court’s Analysis:
- Assumed First Amendment scrutiny but concluded the Act did not violate it.
- Upheld the Act due to the U.S. government’s compelling interest in preventing China from accessing sensitive U.S. data.
- Found the Act narrowly tailored to address national security concerns without overly burdening speech.
Concurring Opinions
- Justice Sotomayor: Agreed with the outcome, emphasizing the Act’s First Amendment implications.
- Justice Gorsuch: Expressed concerns about classified evidence and the Act’s content-neutrality but agreed with the decision due to national security concerns.
What’s Next?
Mr. Trump indicated he would “extend the period before the law’s prohibitions take effect” to reach a deal protecting national security. He proposed a joint venture with the U.S. holding a 50% stake, ensuring no liability for companies aiding in keeping TikTok operational before his order.
During a rally on Sunday, Mr. Trump said, “Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it,” highlighting plans for a joint venture to restore TikTok for its 170 million American users.
TikTok had stopped working late Saturday before the national security-driven ban took effect on Sunday. U.S. officials had warned of data misuse risks under ByteDance’s control. Mr. Trump’s approach starkly contrasts with his previous term, when he sought to ban the app over similar concerns.
In August 2020, Trump ordered ByteDance to divest TikTok, but later approved a partnership structure involving Oracle and Walmart.
Restoration
According to The Verge, TikTok’s services began restoration around 12 PM ET on Sunday, with a message in the app saying, “Welcome back!” crediting Trump for restoring service.
There are no updates yet on TikTok’s partial return’s impact on other ByteDance-linked apps like CapCut and Marvel Snap.
