Apple and Google have pulled TikTok from their app stores as the app ceases operations in the U.S. following a new law.
Washington: So, here’s the scoop. Apple and Google yanked TikTok from their app stores on Saturday. This move comes after a law was passed that requires ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app or face a ban in the U.S.
Now, if you’re in the U.S., you can’t download TikTok anymore. The Supreme Court backed this law, which President Biden signed earlier this year. TikTok announced that it would stop working for Americans unless the government steps in.
When you try to find TikTok on the Apple App Store, you’ll see a message saying it’s not available. Google Play has a similar message, too. Some users even got a note saying TikTok isn’t available right now.
They mentioned that a law banning TikTok is in effect, so it’s a no-go for now. TikTok’s CEO, Shou Chew, argued that using TikTok is a First Amendment right and pointed out that millions of American businesses rely on it.
Chew promised to keep fighting for TikTok as a creative space for users. He also thanked Trump for his support in trying to find a solution. Trump, on his end, said he’d make a decision about TikTok soon and hinted at possibly extending the deadline for ByteDance to sell the app.
Meanwhile, TikTok warned that it would shut down its services unless the Biden administration gave a clear statement to ease concerns. The White House called TikTok’s shutdown threat a “stunt” and said the next administration would handle the law’s implementation.
In a twist, an AI startup, Perplexity AI, has thrown its hat in the ring, proposing a bid to combine with TikTok’s U.S. operations. It’s a wild situation, and everyone’s waiting to see what happens next!
