DOJ Letters Reveal Why Google and Apple Kept TikTok Alive Despite U.S. Ban Law

Newly released Department of Justice letters reveal that Apple and Google were granted immunity for defying a U.S. law aimed at banning TikTok. The Trump administration delayed enforcement to facilitate a potential sale of TikTok to a U.S. entity, while tech companies received assurances that the DOJ would block any legal action against them.

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act mandated U.S. firms to remove TikTok or face severe penalties. However, enforcement complexities arose as the administration sought to pressure ByteDance, TikTok's Beijing-based parent, to divest its U.S. operations. Internal communications, obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request, highlight the behind-the-scenes maneuvering to shield companies like Apple and Google from liability.

TikTok remains accessible in the U.S. as negotiations for ByteDance's divestiture continue. The revelations underscore the tension between national security concerns and the practical challenges of regulating global tech platforms.