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Recent Developments on TikTok’s Status in the U. S.
In a significant turn of events last week, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order aiming to temporarily reinstate TikTok’s operations in the United States. However, as of now, the popular social media app owned by ByteDance remains inaccessible on major platforms: Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store.
Supreme Court Decision and Presidential Intervention
After months of legal disputes, the U. S.Supreme Court mandated that TikTok either be sold to an American company or cease operations within the country. Intriguingly, this ruling was swiftly countered by Trump, who, just hours after assuming office, overturned the decision to shut down the app.
Current Absence from App Stores
Despite the temporary reprieve granted to TikTok, users still face uncertainty as the app is not available in either app store. This unavailability means that not only are existing users unable to update their applications, but new users are also barred from downloading TikTok.
Potential Financial Ramifications for Tech Giants
The delay in reinstating TikTok on app stores may be attributable to the potential penalties facing its service providers. Under U. S.laws, companies like Google and Apple could incur fines of up to $5, 000 for every user accessing TikTok through their platforms. This puts their liability at a staggering $850 billion, a substantial financial threat that complicates their decision to reintegrate the app.
Responses from ByteDance and Other Applications
TikTok has not provided any comments regarding these developments. In an interesting contrast, a developer behind Marvel Snap, another app owned by ByteDance, recently expressed optimism about its return to the app stores within the next week. Meanwhile, all other ByteDance apps find themselves similarly removed from availability.
Upcoming Deadline for Departmental Changes
As it stands, TikTok is under a 75-day ultimatum to dissociate from ByteDance, with the requirement to divest at least 50% of its stake to a U. S.company. Should this deadline approach without resolution, it is likely that TikTok will remain unavailable on app stores, amplifying the urgency for a swift transaction to facilitate its return.
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