TikTok resuming services in US after Trump pledge

TikTok resumes US services amid uncertainty over long-term deal | Photo: AP

Video-sharing app TikTok is restarting operations for its 170 million users in the United States after President-elect Donald Trump announced he would sign an executive order to grant the app a stay when he assumes office on Monday.

TikTok was shut down for US users on Saturday evening. TikTok, ByteDance, and some users challenged a law passed by the US Congress in April last year to ban TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.

But the Supreme Court upheld a law banning TikTok last Friday. This has created extreme uncertainty. According to the law, the ban on the company will take effect if it does not sell its ownership of TikTok in the United States by January 19.

Trump has previously advocated for a TikTok ban. On Sunday, he said in his Social Truth, "I am urging companies not to shut down TikTok. I will be issuing an executive order on Monday (today) to extend the time before the ban goes into effect, as legally required so that we can make a deal to protect our national security."

TikTok CEO Shao Qiu is expected to attend Trump's inauguration today, as the ByteDance-owned app faces accusations from the United States that it poses a national security risk.