TikTok was recently banned in the United States, and various tech companies with their respective app stores are now liable to remove the app. While some users are not taking it lightly, Apple has decided to remove TikTok from the App Store in the United States, which means that users will not be able to download it on their iPhone and iPad devices. TikTok remains functional in other parts of the world where the law is not applicable.
Apple removed TikTok from the app store, and the platform is "temporarily unavailable" for existing users following the app's ban in the United States
Users who have previously installed the app can not use it as well, as the company has made the app "temporarily unavailable." If you are unfamiliar with it, the law that banned TikTok in the United States took hold because of the company's ties in China, which potentially poses a security risk. TikTok's parent company was alternatively devised to divest ownership of the platform, but it appears that the company decided otherwise.
TikTok is also prompting a message to users in the United States who have installed the app, which reads:
A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now.
We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!
President Joe Biden's administration stated on Friday that the decision should be implemented by the upcoming Trump administration due to the timing. Newly elected President Donald Trump will take office this Monday, and there is a possibility that TikTok will be given a 90-day reprieve for the aforementioned ban. Joe Biden claims that TikTok should remain available to the public, but it should be under American ownership. TikTok also issued a statement to its users, stating that the app would soon become unavailable due to lack of intervention by the Biden administration.
The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers that are integral to maintaining TikTok's availability to over 170 million Americans.
Unless the Biden Administration immediately provides a definitive statement to satisfy the most critical service providers assuring non-enforcement, unfortunately TikTok will be forced to go dark on January 19.
With TikTok making the app unavailable and Apple also taking the required actions, it appears the platform will not be available to users in the United States. However, with Trump's administration on the horizon, the decision could be changed if TikTok sees fit to make some changes to its platform. We will share more details on the scenario, so stick around.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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