Why TikTok is no longer available on Google Play Store, App Store

Chinese video creating and sharing application TikTok, launched in 2016, has since witnessed a huge reception through downloads. According to a report by Sensor Tower, a marketing intelligence firm, TikTok was downloaded 104 million times on Apple store in the first half of 2018. Moreover, almost 240 million subscribed to the application in India alone, with 30 million new users added in the month of January. But, if you go to the Apply AppStore or Google Play Store to download this application, you will notice that TikTok has been removed completely. After a public interest litigation appeal to the Madras High Court on April 3, the lip-syncing video sharing application has surely faced some backlash in India. Post the judgment taken on April 17, TikTok has been made unavailable on both iOS and Android devices.

TikTok has been put under the radar with the accusation that the platform has illicit, often pornographic content that will have an affect on children and young adult users. The application's parent company, ByteDance made severe efforts to rectify the problem and also said that the mobile platform is an intermediary as per Section 2(w) of the Information and Technology Act, hence it cannot be held liable for third party actions on the app's platform. It also depended on Section 79 which provides with protection to such intermediaries platform. ByteDance also states that only 0.0006% has been flagged inappropriate by users and that individuals are using TikTok solely for expression and entertainment. 

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However, the Madras High Court took the decision to ban the application. A Supreme Court verdict on this matter will be heard on April 22.

Post the decision, there have been many jokes and ridicules that have been circulating the social media. The ban forbids new users but has taken no stand on the already existing users of TikTok. Additionally, post the ban, many illegal apk. files and methods have taken over for temporary download of TikTok. It is advisable not to download such unauthenticated and duplicate applications. 

Google stated that it has removed the application adhering to the local laws and has no comment on the application. Apple on the other hand has made no statement post removal of the application from its Apple Appstore.