As of Thursday evening, February 13, 2025, TikTok is back in the U.S. app stores for both Google and Apple devices. This move follows a nearly month-long absence from these platforms due to compliance with a law that prohibited apps owned by ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, unless divested to a non-Chinese entity by January 19.
The decision to restore TikTok was influenced by an assurance from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. The Trump administration would not pursue legal action against Apple and Google for hosting the app. Additionally, President Donald Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office delaying enforcement of the ban for 75 days to allow negotiations on divestiture or alternative arrangements.
Restoring TikTok to American app stores has a number of ramifications, including some legal ones.
Legal Implications
- Potential Fines: Despite the Trump administration’s assurance that it will not prosecute Apple and Google for hosting TikTok, the law remains in effect. It means those companies could still face fines of up to $5,000 per user if they continue to work with ByteDance-owned TikTok. Those penalties could amount to hundreds of billions of dollars.
- Statute of Limitations: The statute of limitations on these fines extends beyond Trump’s term, allowing future administrations to enforce them.
- Legal Precedent: The decision by Apple and Google to reinstate TikTok based on non-prosecution assurances from the Trump administration. This sets a precedent where large corporations may rely on such assurances rather than strict adherence to legislation.
Despite this development, concerns about national security risks associated with ByteDance’s Chinese ownership remain. The future of TikTok in the U.S. is still uncertain as negotiations continue regarding potential divestiture or joint ventures involving American companies.
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