Here’s Why Apple Can’t Yet Bring TikTok Back to the App Store

Here’s Why Apple Can’t Yet Bring TikTok Back to the App Store

While the U.S. TikTok blackout may have lasted only hours, the app has still not made a return to the iPhone’s App Store. One law expert has explained why Apple should not return the app to the App Store.

TikTok was taken offline at 10:30 p.m. ET in the United States on Saturday as a federal ban took effect. Apple then removed the app from its App Store.

Then President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday assured tech firms that he would not enforce the TikTok ban, which led to U.S. database host Oracle to restore service on Sunday.

In a support document, Apple explained why it hasn’t returned the app to its App Store, saying it is “obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates.”

“Pursuant to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, apps developed by ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries — including TikTok, CapCut, Lemon8, and others — will no longer be available for download or updates on the App Store for users in the United States starting January 19, 2025,” wrote Apple.

One law expert explains why Apple is correct in not restoring the app to the App Store.

Alan Z. Rozenshtein, writing for Lawfare:

The non-enforcement promise offers minimal security. As discussed above, courts rarely treat such promises as binding, even when defendants face serious consequences from relying on them. Trump could change his mind at any time or selectively enforce against companies that fall from political favor, and a future administration, taking advantage of the five-year statute of limitations, would almost certainly be free to pursue violations regardless of Trump’s stance.

This basically means that Trump’s promises might be of little value down the line, especially in a court of law. Apple could face severe financial consequences for non-enforcement.