TikTok restored on App Store and Google Play in India

Dubai: The TikTok app is finally back on the iOS App Store and Google Play after Madras High Court lifted ban on the popular social media app last week. Earlier this month, the app was delisted from the Indian app stores after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to do so.

The ruling came after a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) was filed against the video sharing app, stating that it encouraged pornography and child abuse. The ban was lifted on conditions that pornographic videos will not be uploaded on it.

According to media reports, the ban was causing developer, Beijing Bytedance Technology Co, financial losses of up to $500,000 a day and even put more than 250 jobs at risk. The financial losses include destruction in the value of its investments and loss of commercial revenue. ByteDance also said that the ban would result in its reputation and goodwill taking a hit with both advertisers and investors.

In a plea filing, the company stated: "Banning has had adverse impact on the user base of this app, losing close to 1 million new users per day ... It is estimated that approximately six million requests for downloads could not be effected since the ban came into effect."

On April 29, @TikTok_IN shared a post on Twitter: "To our TikTok India fam: We've missed you! We're thrilled to share that TikTok is now officially available on Google Play and iOS."

@AngelinaFvince1 tweeted: "OMG it's the return of Tiktok, an awesome app... [it has] become a platform for many people not just youngsters... I just love tiktok a lot and now it had an mass re-entry."