TikTok app returns to Google, Apple app stores

Popular social networking platform TikTok returned to Google and Apple app stores almost a week after Madras High Court lifted the ban on new downloads.

Earlier this month, the Madras High Court had asked the government to impose a ban on downloads of TikTok for "encouraging pornography" and exposing underage children to sexual predators. TikTok's parent company Bytedance had then promised to take measures to protect users' privacy and misuse of the application.

Last week, the Madras High Court lifted the ban on the download but with a warning that TikTok would face a contempt of court if pornographic material was uploaded on the platform.

"We are glad about this decision and we believe it is also greatly welcomed by our thriving community in India, who use TikTok as a platform to showcase their creativity. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our users better. While we're pleased that our efforts to fight against misuse of the platform has been recognised, the work is never "done" on our end. We are committed to continuously enhancing our safety features as a testament to our ongoing commitment to our users in India," TikTok had said in a statement soon after the court's order.

The company had said that the ban in India was resulting in "financial losses" up to $500,000 a day and even put more than 250 jobs at risk.

TikTok is one of the most popular applications in India. The platform, which allows users to create and share short videos, has been downloaded over 240 million times in India, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower. The parent company, Bytedance, is said to be one of the world's most valuable startups and is estimated at worth $75 billion. It is also backed by Japan's SoftBank Group Corp.

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