Tik Tok restores services in US, thanks Trump

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TikTok restored its service in the United States on Sunday after briefly going offline as a law banning the popular app on national security grounds came into effect.

TikTok credited President-elect Donald Trump, who will assume office on Monday, for making the reversal possible—despite the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden earlier stating it would not enforce the ban.

The video-sharing app went dark in the United States late Saturday as a deadline for its Chinese owners, ByteDance, to sell its US subsidiary to non-Chinese buyers approached.

Earlier on Sunday, as millions of dismayed users found themselves unable to access the app, Trump promised to issue an executive order delaying the ban to allow time to “make a deal.”

He also proposed, via his Truth Social platform, that the United States should take part-ownership of TikTok.

The president-elect stated that he “would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture,” arguing that the app’s value could rise to “hundreds of billions of dollars—maybe trillions.”

“By doing this, we save TikTok and keep it in good hands,” Trump wrote. He had previously supported a TikTok ban and, during his first term, made moves towards enacting one.

In a statement posted on X following Trump’s comments, TikTok said it was “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 for providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans.”

TikTok, which was back online in the United States by Sunday afternoon, did not address Trump’s proposal for partial American ownership of the of the app.

The law allows for a 90-day delay of the ban if the White House can demonstrate progress towards a viable deal. However, ByteDance has so far refused to sell.

The Biden administration has indicated it would leave enforcement of the law to Trump.

From teenage dancers to grandmothers sharing cooking tips, TikTok has been embraced for its ability to transform ordinary users into global celebrities through viral videos.

However, it has also faced criticism for disinformation, and its Chinese ownership has fuelled national security concerns both in the United States and internationally.

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