TikTok restores service for American users following Trump's pledge

Around 12 hours after going dark in the United States, TikTok was back to run again Sunday after President-elect Donald Trump vowed earlier the day to postpone the ban from taking effect.

In a statement posted on X Saturday night, the short video-sharing app announced that it had reached an agreement with its internet service providers and was "in the process of restoring service". Both the app and website are now working again.

TikTok thanked Trump for providing "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".

The company also said that it would work with Trump to find a long-term solution that would ensure the app's normal operation in the United States.

Earlier on Saturday, hours before a federal ban was set to take effect, TikTok temporarily shut down its U.S. services. Several other apps under is China-based parent company, ByteDance, also went off-line in the United States around the same time. American companies including Apple, Google, and Oracle, which support the functioning of TikTok in the U.S., also ceased their related services.

On Sunday morning, Trump posted on social media "asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark!" He further pledged to issue an executive order after swearing in on Monday to delay implementation of the ban-or-sale law, "so that we can make a deal to protect our national security".

In April 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by both chambers of Congress, urging ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese company within 270 days. Otherwise, the app would be banned in the U.S. after January 19, 2025, or Sunday.

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal law that would ban TikTok starting Sunday unless it is sold. Following that ruling, the Biden administration indicated that enforcement responsibilities would shift to the incoming Trump administration, which will take office on Monday.