TikTok was still unavailable on Apple and Google app stores in the US on Tuesday, following President Donald Trump's executive order that delayed the enforcement of a potential ban on the app by 75 days. This development came after the app had gone dark on Saturday, just before a law took effect on Sunday that required Chinese owner ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban, citing national security concerns. Although TikTok resumed service after Trump assured the company and its partners that they would not face hefty fines, it had yet to return to the app stores. Analysts speculate that Apple and Google are waiting for additional legal protections before lifting the ban, which could penalize them for distributing TikTok. Apple’s App Store displayed a message saying that "TikTok and other ByteDance apps are not available in the country or region you're in," while Google Play paused downloads, citing "current US legal requirements." Meanwhile, Bill Ford, CEO of TikTok investor General Atlantic, suggested there are alternative ways to restructure TikTok's US ownership that may not involve a full sale. He pointed out that 60% of ByteDance is owned by non-Chinese investors, such as BlackRock and General Atlantic, with the rest owned by the company’s founders and employees. Neither Google, Apple, nor TikTok responded to requests for comment.
