Indian government’s crackdown on TikTok: The video-sharing app removed from Play Store, App Store

In what could be bad news for TiKTok app in India, the video-sharing app is no longer available for Android and iOS users. The move comes after the Indian government directed Google and Apple to comply with Madras High Court’s ban order and take down the app from their respective app stores. Republic World has verified that the app is no longer available to download through Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

The instructions to take down TikTok were sent to Google and Apple after the Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the Madras HC order that directed the Centre to impose a ban on the app over concerns about access to pornographic content through it. The matter is scheduled for hearing in the Supreme Court on April 22 TikTok is owned and operated by China’s ByteDance.

READ | Supreme Court refuses to stay Madras High Court order banning TikTok app, to hear plea on Apr 22

Madras High Court has appointed a senior advocate Arvind Datar as Amicus Curiae (independent counsel) to the court. TikTok said in its statement on Tuesday that it has faith in the Indian judicial system. TikTok boasts about more than 120 million monthly active users in India.

READ | TikTok ban order: The video-sharing app says we have faith in the Indian judicial system

Earlier this month, the Madras High Court directed the centre to impose a ban on TikTok over the concerns of "pornographic and inappropriate content" being made available through such apps.

What does this mean?

The removal of the TikTok app from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store doesn’t affect the existing TikTok users. So, if you are already using TikTok on your phone, it will continue to function as usual. However, new users can no longer install TikTok on their phone. TikTik lets users film themselves while dancing to songs and lip-syncing to lyric and share those videos with their friends.

India happens to be the largest market for TikTok accounting for almost 40% market share out of the app’s total users base of 500 million worldwide. Recently, we compiled the list of some of the best alternatives for TikTok in India.