For the first time in many years, TikTok fans in India may have reason to be hopeful. The short-video platform that has been banned since June 2020 is oddly showing as accessible for some web users. While this development has sparked widespread curiosity, it does not mean that the app has officially returned to the Indian market.
TikTok Website Goes Live?
Techlusive could access TikTok’s official website on both smartphones and laptops during checks. However, not everyone is able to open the site. Several users on X (formerly Twitter) noted that they still couldn’t load the page, suggesting that the accessibility might either be region-specific or part of limited testing. Importantly, the TikTok app remains unavailable on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in India.
The 2020 Ban
In June 2020, when the Indian government banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps, the announcement came without warning leaving India’s 200 million active TikTok users without the platform. The government announced it was blocking TikTok for “data privacy” and risk to “national security.” In what is still recognized as a sudden change of political direction under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, no clarity was offered as to whether the ban would remain permanent. Since then, the app has remained off-limits in one of its biggest markets.
India-China Relations in Focus
Adding fuel to the comeback speculation is the recent improvement in India-China relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Delhi earlier this week included meetings with PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Both sides stressed the importance of a “candid and constructive” dialogue. The Prime Minister’s trip to China, later this month, for the SCO summit may indicate better relations.
No Official Confirmation Yet
For now, while TikTok’s website appears to be redirecting users to its site, there has been no formal announcement from either the Indian government nor TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance. Without a formal lifting of the ban, TikTok cannot operate legally in India. However, the possibility of TikTok’s comeback in India appears stronger than they have in recent years.
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