Apple Responds To TikTok Ban In The US: We Must Obey The Law

JAKARTA After TikTok officially offline in the United States, on January 19, Apple also removed the application from the App Store. In its official statement, Apple explained that this step was taken because of the obligation to comply with the law in the country where the company operates.

Through its official website, Apple states: "Apple must comply with the laws in the jurisdiction where we operate. In accordance with Protecting American's from Foreign Advisory Controlled Applications Act, applications developed by ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries including TikTok, CapCut, Lemon8, and others are no longer available for download or update on the App Store for users in the United States starting January 19, 2025."

Apple has also released a list of apps created by ByteDance and has been removed from the App Store in the US:

Apple explains that users in the US who already have this app can still use it on their devices. However, if the app is removed or the user moves to a new device, the app cannot be re-downloaded or restored. In addition, US users will not be able to receive updates, which can affect performance, security, and compatibility with future versions of iOS and iPadOS.

Apple insists that these applications remain available for download in other countries where they are allowed. However, for users from outside the US visiting US territory, they cannot download, update, or make in-app purchases of ByteDance while within the region. All functions will return to normal after leaving the US.

This ban is a significant step taken under a law aimed at protecting US national security from potential threats that are thought to come from applications developed by foreign entities such as ByteDance.