Former President Donald Trump has committed to reinstating TikTok in the United States, expressing his belief that the popular social media platform is vital for connecting with younger audiences.
The announcement comes hours after the popular video-sharing platform went dark in response to a federal ban, which President Donald Trump said he would try to pause by executive order on his first day in office.
Trump argues that reviving TikTok would benefit content creators and users and enhance cultural engagement.
He has indicated that his administration would work on ensuring user data security and addressing privacy concerns, positioning the app as a key player in the digital landscape moving forward.
TikTok has said it was restoring its service after Trump said he would revive the app’s access in the US.
The statement came after US users reported being able to access the Chinese-owned service’s website while the far more widely used TikTok app itself did not appear to be immediately available.
“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service,” TikTok said in a statement that thanked Trump for “providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties (for) providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.”
Trump said that he wants TikTok to have 50 percent American ownership.
This proposal stems from ongoing concerns regarding data privacy and national security associated with the app, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.
By pushing for significant American ownership, Trump aims to ensure that the app’s operations and user data are more closely regulated and monitored by U.S. stakeholders, thereby reducing potential risks related to foreign influence and data security breaches.
