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NEW YORK CITY — TikTok announced it is working to restore access for users in the United States after the platform went offline in response to a new federal law.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, the company said it had received cooperation from tech firms that had faced fines for hosting the app. TikTok expressed gratitude to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who confirmed plans to sign an executive order granting its parent company, ByteDance, additional time to negotiate a deal to avoid a permanent U.S. ban.
BREAKING NEWS UPDATE:
Trump said on Sunday that he intends to issue an executive order to extend the deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations. The extension aims to avoid a permanent ban imposed under a federal law that took effect this weekend.
In a Truth Social post, Trump explained the order would “delay the law’s restrictions” and clarify that companies assisting TikTok in maintaining its operations prior to the order would not face penalties.
“Americans deserve to see the excitement of our inauguration on Monday and other significant events,” Trump wrote.
The law, passed with bipartisan support in April and signed by President Joe Biden, required ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. business by Sunday due to national security concerns over its Chinese ownership. While ByteDance has resisted selling its U.S. operations, Trump’s order would extend the deadline by 90 days if negotiations show progress.
Millions of American users were shocked when TikTok went offline on Saturday night. A message displayed on the app read: “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”
TikTok’s disappearance was unexpected, as experts had anticipated the app would remain accessible to existing users until a lack of updates rendered it nonfunctional. However, Apple and Google promptly removed TikTok and other ByteDance-owned apps from their digital stores.
ByteDance is facing growing scrutiny due to concerns over data collection and potential ties to the Chinese government. While the U.S. government has not publicly disclosed evidence of misuse, officials remain wary of TikTok’s influence and the possibility of algorithmic manipulation.
Industry Reaction and Future Plans
In a late Saturday video, TikTok CEO Shou Chew thanked Trump for his willingness to collaborate and emphasized the platform’s value in fostering free expression. Meanwhile, several U.S.-based investors and companies have shown interest in purchasing TikTok’s U.S. operations, though no definitive buyer has emerged.
In China, some commentators accused the U.S. of stifling freedom of speech. Hu Xijin, a prominent political commentator, labeled the ban “the darkest moment in internet development” in a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
Under the current law, tech firms hosting TikTok in the U.S. face steep fines, potentially amounting to millions of dollars. The Biden administration has confirmed it will not enforce penalties before Trump takes office on Monday.
TikTok users and stakeholders now await further clarity, as the platform works toward a resolution to keep the app accessible in the United States.
