TikTok says it is 'restoring service' after Trump announces he will issue executive order
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
- TikTok says it is "restoring service" in the United States.
- The company had turned off its app for its 170 million US users on Saturday.
- President-elect Donald Trump said he will issue an executive order on Monday to delay a TikTok ban.
TikTok said on Sunday it is "restoring service" after shutting down its app in the United States to comply with a divest-or-ban law.
The app began coming back online for US users first through web browsers and later on the mobile app.
The company told advertising partners on Sunday that it would soon become available for the majority of US users, but they should expect "some temporary service instability," according to a memo obtained by Business Insider.
"In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service," TikTok wrote in a statement to BI. "We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive."
President-elect Donald Trump said on social media on Sunday morning he would issue an executive order to extend the time before "the law's prohibitions take effect," adding that "there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark" before the order.
The company said it will work with President Trump on a "long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States."
A message appearing on TikTok on Sunday after the app came back online said that TikTok is back "as a result of President Trump's efforts."
TikTok switched off its app for its 170 million US users on Saturday, shortly before a legally imposed deadline for owner ByteDance to sell the US version of the app or effectively cease operating in the country. Apple and Google have both removed TikTok from their stores.
The TikTok shutdown followed a drawn-out legal battle over the ban-or-divest law, which was passed by Congress last year. The law required TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app's US operations by January 19 or be banned.
As the deadline neared, a message on the app popped up at around 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday: "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now."
"A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!"