
*TikTok’s brief 12-hour shutdown, followed by its quick restoration after a comment from President Donald Trump, seemed like a strategic move to spark public outrage, according to policy experts quoted by The New York Post.
“TikTok’s early shutdown either came down to corporate incompetence or a deliberate PR stunt to encourage a manufactured sense of panic,” said Joel Thayer, a DC-based tech lawyer and president of the Digital Progress Institute, per the Post. “Given it’s waffling, I’m assuming it’s the latter.”
TikTok temporarily shut down for U.S. users late Saturday but began restoring access Sunday after Trump pledged to issue an executive order delaying enforcement of the law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell its stake.
“I will issue an executive order on Monday 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. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order,” Trump posted to Truth Social.
In a statement, TikTok thanked Trump “for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties.”
STATEMENT FROM TIKTOK:
In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170…
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) January 19, 2025
“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the 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 posted on X.
“It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
Congress passed legislation last year mandating TikTok’s separation from ByteDance, arguing the app’s Chinese ownership could enable surveillance and influence over U.S. users. TikTok has pushed back, including an appeal to the Supreme Court, but justices signaled they may uphold the law.
Trump’s executive order would delay enforcement of the ban by two to three months. Meanwhile, Thayer said TikTok’s leadership has acted as “an unsympathetic and disingenuous broker” in its dealings with Congress.
“The truth is that, even before Congress enacted the law, the US has told TikTok how to fix its blatant national security concerns for over 5 years and the company did nothing,” he added. “Now, after it attempted to bring bogus First Amendment claims to delay the law’s enforcement and on the eve of its ban, it wants a pity party.”
TikTok’s availability came back Sunday afternoon, with the message to users: “Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.”
The app is unavailable for download from Apple’s and Google’s app stores.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Like it Never Even Happened – TikTok Back Online After Trump Pledged to Restore it | WATCH