Tiktok is back in the US, but Apple and Google are uncertain about its status.
The short video app is currently not available on the tech giants’ app stores due to a white house executive order. Despite this, TikTok has resumed operations after briefly halting its service on January 18th, but Apple and Google have not reinstated the app.
The executive order requires TikTok’s owner to comply with the law for 75 days and sell its U.S. operations to avoid a de facto ban. The law prohibits companies from distributing, maintaining, or updating TikTok after the January 19 deadline.
Despite this, Apple and Google have removed TikTok from their stores, preventing users in the US from downloading the app. However, the app remains accessible in other countries and in China where a similar app, Douyin, operates under the ownership of Bytedance.
Oracle, the cloud computing provider for TikTok, has not terminated its services in the U.S. Yet, there have been discussions about potentially selling TikTok’s operations to Oracle, as suggested by Trump and others.
It remains uncertain whether Oracle will acquire TikTok, as Trump has indicated he will make a decision within the next 30 days. Meanwhile, the Chinese government appears more open to potential deals involving foreign ministries.
Legal experts suggest that Apple and Google are exercising caution due to the potential legal implications of violating the executive order. The order’s language could leave third parties working with TikTok vulnerable to legal action from non-state entities.
Ultimately, Apple and Google’s actions have left users unable to access TikTok in the U.S., raising concerns about the app’s functionality and security in the future. The situation surrounding TikTok’s operations in the U.S. remains uncertain as negotiations and legal considerations continue.
Source: www.theguardian.com
