Timeline of TikTok controversy: Major events that led to removal of TikTok app from Play Store, App Store

In February, Tamil Nadu Information Techlogy minister M Manikandan said that state will seek centre’s help to ban TikTok for causing degradation of Tamil Nadu’s culture and leading to issues related to law and order in state.

Responding to state government seeking a ban on app, TikTok said in its statement that company was in process of recruiting a chief dal officer in India for better coordination with law enforcement authorities.

Earlier in April, Madurai-based senior advocate Muthu Kumar filed a petition against TikTok. Based on petition, Madras High Court asked government to impose a ban on TikTok for "encouraging porgraphy." court also directed media from telecasting videos made using TikTok.

Initially, Supreme Court India refused to entertain urgent plea hearing on Madras High Court’s ban order directing centre to ban TikTok app over concerns about access to inappropriate, porgraphic content through it.

Supreme Court later agreed to hear a plea challenging Madras High Court ban order against TikTok on April 15

TikTok owner ByteDance requested Supreme Court t to impose a ban on TikTok. company also said that court order to ban TikTok app in country will hurt speech rights.

TikTok said it has removed more than 60 lakh videos in India for violating TikTok's community guidelines since July 2018.

Supreme Court refused to stay Madras High Court order that directed Centre to ban app. Supreme Court said that ban directive was just an interim order and High Court is scheduled to hear matter on April 16.

Shortly after Supreme Court refused to stay Madras High Court order, Ministry of Electronics and Information Techlogy (MeitY) reportedly instructed Google and Apple to take down TikTok app from ir respective app stores.

Madras High Court appointed Amicus Curiae (independent counsel) to court. While addressing High Court’s directive, TikTok said in its statement that it has faith in Indian judicial system.

Google and Apple remove TikTok app from ir respective app stores, just a day after TikTok said app has over 120 million active users in India.

matter is scheduled for hearing in Supreme Court on April 22.