On Friday, TikTok announced it would enable U.S. Android users to download the app directly from its website using package kits. This move aims to bypass the ongoing restrictions on the platform in the U.S., where Apple and Google have not reinstated TikTok to their app stores.
Since January 19, a new U.S. law has required TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to either sell the app or face a potential ban due to national security concerns. Although President Donald Trump signed an executive order that delayed enforcement of the law by 75 days, discussions continue regarding the future of TikTok, which has around 170 million U.S. users.
Trump also signed an order to create a sovereign wealth fund, which could be used to potentially purchase TikTok. U.S. officials have raised concerns about the potential misuse of American data under ByteDance’s ownership.
While some lawmakers argue in favor of banning TikTok, citing security risks, free speech advocates have opposed such measures. TikTok counters that its content recommendation system and user data are stored in the U.S. on cloud servers operated by Oracle. The company also maintains that decisions regarding content moderation for American users are made in the U.S.