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TikTok returned to U.S. stores across the Apple App Store and Google Play store after a 25-day absence. The platform was removed from the company on January 18 because of a new security law to solve data security and national safety issues. The return of TikTok occurred right after tech giants and U.S. government representatives spent numerous weeks in dialogue about the platform's status.
TikTok's controversy comes from concerns that ByteDance, its parent company, may share user data with China's national government. Many lawmakers and intelligence officials warn that Beijing may possibly obtain location information and private data from users. The algorithm that orchestrates TikTok content recommendations generates doubts about its potential usage in distributing fake news.
However, TikTok has distanced itself from data misuse allegations by asserting its independence from Chinese government control. Moreover, the company insists that there is no data misuse in the U.S. despite the ongoing concerns.
The TikTok app was allowed to return to both Apple and Google app stores after receiving official promises from U.S. Justice Department officials. The Department of Justice granted the companies immunity from penalties when they distributed TikTok through their app platforms. President Trump issued an executive order that suspended the TikTok ban enforcement for 75 days after its original signing.
The App store ban created major problems for people who used the service. Users who removed TikTok could not download it again through official download channels. The existing user base remained active on the platform while Android users got instructions from TikTok to download the application manually from its main website.
TikTok's return to Apple and Google app stores raises doubts about whether it will continue operating in the United States after January 19, 2025. Under President Biden's signed law last year, ByteDance needs to sell TikTok before January 19th, 2025, to avoid potential blocking from the United States. The United States government passed this law because it views the Chinese control of TikTok as a security threat to national defense.
The U.S. operations of TikTok continue unaffected while millions of Americans continue using the application. Continuous discussions about the app's future indicate possible changes in its situation. Competing social media companies developed new features similar to TikTok to challenge its leadership position in video clips shorter than one minute. The popularity of TikTok continues to grow as users prefer it over other apps resulting in more than 52 million U.S. downloads during the previous year.
