TikTok Banned and Then Unbanned

In a dramatic turn of events, TikTok, the widely popular social media platform, has faced a rollercoaster of legal decisions that saw it banned and later reinstated in the United States (U.S.).

The platform, known for its short-form videos and global cultural influence, has once again become a focal point in debates surrounding data privacy, national security, and freedom of expression.

TikTok stopped working for U.S. users late on Saturday, 18 January, before a law shutting it down on national security grounds took effect the following day. U.S. officials had said that under Chinese parent company ByteDance, there was a risk of Americans’ data being misused.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would like to “extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture,” in a statement released via his Truth Social platform.

The reinstatement came with conditions: TikTok must adhere to stricter data governance measures, including regular audits and local data storage requirements.

The decision to ban TikTok was met with widespread protests from users, businesses, and digital rights activists. Critics argued that the ban was an overreach that stifled free expression and harmed creators’ livelihoods.

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