US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order temporarily pausing the federal ban on TikTok, allowing access to the app to be restored for US users. The move comes after Oracle and Akamai restored access to the app before Trump took office, despite Apple and Google’s refusal to do so.
The law banning TikTok took effect last Sunday after a court battle, with the Supreme Court upholding the federal law in a unanimous ruling. However, the ban was not enforced immediately, as Trump said he would issue an executive order pausing the ban for 75 days.
Companies like Oracle and Akamai restored access to TikTok by voluntarily putting it back online, but they may still face legal liability if Trump reverses his decision or changes his mind about enforcing the ban. Experts warn that even with Trump’s assurances not to enforce the law, companies could still be targeted for restoring access to the app.
Apple and Google have refused to restore TikTok to their app stores, citing concerns over potential legal liabilities. The fines for violating the ban range from $5,000 per user for smaller companies like Oracle and Akamai to potentially $850 billion if larger corporations are punished.
It remains unclear whether ByteDance will sell its US assets or comply with Trump’s demands for a 50% stake in TikTok’s US operations. China has expressed reluctance to accept a sale, citing independence and market principles. The future of the TikTok ban hangs in the balance as the situation continues to unfold.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/01/21/tiktok-still-off-app-stores-as-trump-freezes-ban-heres-what-to-know