Selected Users Access TikTok Website, Reports Media
TikTok, the Chinese short-video platform banned in India since June 2020, has suddenly reappeared for some users. Its website became briefly accessible, raising questions about a potential return of the app in the country.
The surprise visibility led to widespread buzz on social media. Many speculated that the five-year-long restriction might have ended. However, government sources have made the situation clear.
Government Confirms No Change in Ban
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has clarified that no order to lift the ban has been issued.
“Government of India has not issued any unblocking order for TikTok. Any such statement/news is false and misleading,” officials stated.
The confirmation ends speculation of a revival, though it underlines the strong interest TikTok still holds in India.
TikTok Responds to the Buzz
A TikTok spokesperson also told TechCrunch that the app remains banned in India. The platform is not officially accessible despite the brief availability of its homepage.
Reports suggest the sudden reappearance was caused by a network-level misconfiguration. This is not the first such glitch. In September 2022, a similar patching error by some internet service providers temporarily unblocked the app.
Why TikTok Remains Banned?
The Indian government had banned TikTok along with 58 other apps in June 2020. The decision was made amid national security concerns, as authorities cited risks to sovereignty, defence, and public order.
The move coincided with rising tensions between India and China following the Galwan Valley clashes. At the time, TikTok had nearly 200 million users in India, making the ban a major shift in the social media landscape.
The Bigger Picture
India’s restrictions on TikTok were part of wider global concerns about Chinese technology companies. Countries have raised alarms about potential backdoors in apps and hardware, especially with the spread of 5G equipment.
While the TikTok website’s brief appearance has sparked curiosity, both the government and the company confirm the app remains blocked in India.
