Speculation has arisen regarding the potential return of TikTok to India, five years after the app was banned. The buzz started when the TikTok website became accessible to some users in India on Friday. However, government sources have clarified that the ban on TikTok remains in place.
TikTok, along with 58 other Chinese apps, was initially banned in June 2020 following the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops. The Indian government cited security concerns, stating that these apps were "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order". The ban was implemented under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
The recent accessibility of the TikTok website's homepage has led to speculation about a possible change in the government's stance. However, sources from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) have firmly stated that no official directive has been issued to unblock the website and that the ban remains in effect. According to officials, while the landing page on the TikTok website earlier used to display a message that the service was not available in India, it now shows their "About us" page when accessed on desktop. They clarified that this does not mean its content is available.
Adding to the ambiguity, the Department of Telecom indicated that Internet service providers (ISPs) are still blocking the website, making it unclear how some users are able to access it. While the website's homepage is accessible to some, users cannot log in, upload, or watch videos. The app also remains unavailable on app stores. When members of the Times of India tech team checked, they were able to access the homepage but not any other page. When clicked on “Newsroom” a message flashes saying, “You don't have access to this page Our services aren't available in your country or region.” Additionally, a click on “Careers” returns “503 Service Temporarily Unavailable” message.
This development has surfaced amid signs of improving relations between India and China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently to discuss bilateral relations, and officials have confirmed that India and China have agreed to resume direct flight connectivity. Furthermore, China has recently lifted restrictions on exports of fertilizers, rare earth minerals, and tunnel-boring machines to India. It is also anticipated that Prime Minister Modi will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China later this month, where he may have bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The timing of the website's accessibility also coincides with a relative cooling of relations between India and the United States, due to tariffs imposed by the U.S. administration on Indian goods. China has expressed that it "will firmly stand with India," which suggests a potential shift in the dynamics between the two countries.
Despite these developments, the Indian government's official position remains unchanged: TikTok is still banned. The reasons for the partial accessibility of the website remain unclear, and any speculation about the ban being lifted is premature.
