TikTok began restoring service in the U.S. after a temporary shutdown on Jan. 18, 2025, following a Supreme Court decision upholding a law requiring ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, to divest ownership due to national security concerns. The law, passed last year, mandated the sale or banning of TikTok by Jan. 19. ByteDance challenged the law, but the court ruled unanimously against them, citing concerns over data collection and ties to the Chinese government.
Ahead of the deadline, TikTok voluntarily shut down access in the U.S., displaying a message to users about the ban. However, President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to issue an executive order delaying the law’s enforcement and providing assurance to service providers, enabling TikTok to begin reinstating service. Trump also proposed a potential joint venture with 50% U.S. ownership to keep the platform operational.
TikTok’s CEO expressed optimism about the app’s future under Trump, who had discussed the matter with Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, the long-term fate of TikTok remains uncertain. Without a sale, Apple and Google could face penalties for hosting the app. The law allows for restrictions to be lifted if a divestiture occurs, but ByteDance has argued that selling the app without its algorithm would render it fundamentally different. Congress passed the law to address national security risks, but ByteDance and TikTok have called the measure unconstitutional, claiming it suppresses free speech.
The Supreme Court affirmed the government’s position, emphasizing the need to address security concerns while noting that enforcement of the law depends on the incoming administration. TikTok’s future hinges on negotiations, a potential sale, or legislative changes, but for now, Trump’s actions have temporarily kept the platform available to over 170 million U.S. users.
