Malik Waqar
TikTok is allowing US Android users to download its app directly from its website, bypassing restrictions imposed under a new law that could see the platform banned unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells it.
Apple and Google have not reinstated TikTok in their app stores since the law took effect on 19 January, citing national security concerns. The legislation, passed by Congress and signed by then-President Joe Biden, requires ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face a ban. The app remains available to existing users but cannot be downloaded afresh from official stores.
President Donald Trump, who took office a day after the law was implemented, has signed an executive order delaying its enforcement by 75 days. He said discussions were ongoing with multiple parties over the platform’s purchase, with a decision expected this month.
Trump has also ordered the creation of a sovereign wealth fund within a year, which could potentially be used to acquire TikTok. The fund’s structure and funding details remain unclear.
With around 170 million American users, TikTok remains a dominant force in social media. The company has rejected allegations that it poses a security threat, stating that US user data is stored on Oracle-operated cloud servers and that content moderation for American users is handled domestically.
Free speech advocates have criticised the ban, arguing that the move unfairly targets TikTok while other platforms with foreign ownership operate freely. The company itself has accused US officials of misrepresenting its ties to China.
US lawmakers and security agencies have raised concerns that ByteDance could be compelled by Beijing to provide user data or influence content on the platform. However, TikTok maintains that it operates independently, with strict safeguards to protect user information.
ByteDance has not announced whether it plans to sell the platform or challenge the law in court. In the meantime, TikTok’s move to offer direct downloads via its website could keep it accessible to Android users in the US despite the ongoing restrictions.
