TikTok says it’s restoring service for US users after Trump comments

TikTok announced on Sunday that it would restore the service for US users after blocking it the day before.

In a statement, TikTok said its services would return online after President-elect Donald Trump provided necessary assurances to the company’s service providers.

“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is restoring service,” the company said in a post on services that they will not be subject to any penalty if they choose. TikTok to more than 170 million Americans and allowing more than 7 million small businesses to thrive.

“This is a strong stance in support of the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States,” the company added.

Just hours before TikTok’s departure, Trump posted on Truth Social calling for the app to remain available.

Trump indicated in his message that he wanted this document to be available in order to broadcast his inauguration on Monday.

“I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the deadline before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so we can reach an agreement to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going extinct prior to my order,” Trump wrote.

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Availability of TikTok remained limited as of early afternoon, with access to the platform’s content available through web browsers.

The law banning TikTok, which was set to take effect Sunday, allows the president to grant a 90-day extension before the ban is enforced, provided certain criteria are met.

Under a law signed by President Joe Biden in April, TikTok would be banned unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, sold the company to a non-Chinese buyer.

Before the ban was implemented, Biden and the new Trump administration appeared to be reversing their previous positions on TikTok.

During his campaign, Trump, who had advocated for a ban during his first term as president, came out in favor of TikTok, saying he would save the app.

After the Supreme Court greenlighted the law on Friday, the Biden administration issued a statement saying it would not enforce the ban, leaving that responsibility to Trump.

But TikTok said those assurances weren’t enough to stop the app from going dark, and on Saturday evening the app was removed from app stores and service for U.S. users was suspended.