TikTok restored service in the United States on Sunday crediting Trump for making the reversal possible – though the outgoing Biden administration had earlier said that it would not enforce any ban.
Under the order, the attorney general must issue guidance implementing the pause, and send letters to service providers confirming they will not face liability for continuing to host or update TikTok during this period.
This clarification was crucial for companies like Apple and Google, which would otherwise be required to remove TikTok from their app stores and block updates, facing penalties of up to US$5,000 per user if the app is accessed.
Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s US servers, is also legally obliged to enforce the ban.
The 75-day pause is intended to give the new administration time to “pursue a resolution that protects national security while saving a platform used by 170 million Americans”, according to the order.
When asked what the TikTok order does, Trump said “just gave me the right to sell it or close it”, adding that he needed to make a decision.
