TikTok restores service, thanks Trump who eyes 50% American ownership
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TikTok ceased operating for its 170 million American users late Saturday following an unprecedented ban.
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President Donald Trump talks to reporters while on a flight from Billings, Mont., to Fargo, North Dakota, on September 7, 2018 (AP)
TikTok claimed on Sunday that it was restoring service after President-elect Donald Trump promised to restore access to the app in the United States when he takes office on Monday.
The comment came after US customers reported being able to access the Chinese-owned service's website, but the far more popular TikTok app did not appear to be immediately available.
"In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service," the company said in a statement, thanking 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 he will reinstate TikTok access in the United States by executive order, but he wants the app to be at least half owned by US investors.
The US Supreme Court upheld the ban on Friday, citing national security concerns, unless TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, finalizes a sale to non-Chinese buyers by Sunday.
TikTok ceased operating for its 170 million American users late Saturday.
According to Trump, he would "extend the period of time before the law's prohibitions take effect so that we can make a deal to protect our national security."
"A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. 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," TikTok users were notified.
He wrote on Truth Social that he would like the US to "have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands, and allow it to say up."
Even if temporary, the unprecedented shutdown of TikTok is set to have a wide-ranging impact on US-China relations, US politics, the social media marketplace, and millions of Americans who depend on the app economically and culturally.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington accused the United States of using undue state power to crush TikTok on Friday, vowing it will take "all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," according to a representative.
NordVPN, a famous virtual private network (VPN) that allows users to access the internet from servers all over the world, announced that it was "experiencing temporary technical difficulties." According to Google Trends, web searches for "VPN" increased in the minutes following TikTok's suspension in the United States.
