Google and Apple pulled TikTok from app stores in India
The popular Chinese short video app faces censorship at home and overseas
Google and Apple have complied with an Indian high court order and pulled TikTok from Google Play and the iOS App Store in India. The app became controversial after being accused of spreading pornography and exposing young users to sexual predators.
TikTok, the viral short video sensation, has its roots in China
TikTok has amassed more than 120 million users in India, and those users won't be affected for now: The app will continue to work as normal, it's just not available for download. But there’s still a chance removal from app stores is just a precursor to a countrywide ban. India’s Supreme Court scheduled another hearing for TikTok’s plea on April 22.
India has been an important part of TikTok’s overseas success, and getting banned in the country could be a huge blow to its efforts outside of China. The app is running into trouble in other countries, too. It’s already blocked in Bangladesh, and the company was fined in the US for collecting information from children under 13 years old.
The Chinese version, known as Douyin, run separately from its international version, was also repeatedly slammed by authorities. But it hasn’t faced consequences as extreme as getting pulled from app stores.
Company representatives have been summoned by Chinese authorities for talks about copyright infringement issues while TikTok was being scrutinized along with other short video platforms. State media have also criticized it for allowing content that is vulgar, pornographic, and insulting to communist martyrs, an issue that Chinese authorities take seriously.