TikTok removed from Play Store, App Store in India
- Video sharing app TikToK has been taken down from the Google Play Store as well as Apple App Store after the Madras High Court refused to suspend ban imposed on the controversial app.
- The Madras High Court, on April 3, had asked the Centre to ban TikTok claiming that it encouraged pornography and made minors vulnerable. This ruling, in turn, was triggered by a PIL filed by an activist group.
- The Centre had allegedly sent a notice to Google and Apple asking the two US-based companies to abide by the state court’s order. Consequently, the app is no longer accessible in India on the two platforms.
- TikTok has over 240 million downloads in India, with around 30 million of these users joining the platform in January 2019 alone. Current users can continue to access all the features of the app.
- Bytedance, TikTok’s parent company, currently has more than 250 employees in India. The company’s original plan was to invest more in the country to expand the business, however, it remains to be seen how this development affects its plans.
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