Can TikTok really make a comeback in India? Are China and India planning something behind the doors?

After the resumption of the official website of TikTok in India, talks have started across every corner of the nation about the return of TikTok after it was banned for almost five years. However, the Government of India has clarified that TikTok is still banned and that there are no plans for the resumption of its services in India. But one question remains unanswered: why it will be almost impossible for TikTok to return to India, even after China and India have started mending their ties following Donald Trump’s irrational tariffs.

New Delhi: Discussions have intensified in India regarding the return of the Chinese social media app TikTok. TikTok has started trending again on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where some users are supporting the removal of the ban on it, while some are opposing its return.

However, it is important to note that so far no official announcement has been made in this regard by either the Government of India or TikTok's parent company, ByteDance. The reason for this discussion is that TikTok's website has started being partially accessed again in India, with the company describing its platform as a source of creativity and entertainment.

But the app is still not available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, which proves that the ban is still in place.

Why did the government ban TikTok?

The Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, in June 2020. The reason for this was cited as a threat to the country's security and sovereignty, as the servers of these apps were in China and the Chinese government had control over them.

This threatened the private data of Indian users. At that time, there was an anti-China atmosphere in India due to the military tension in the Galwan Valley and China's attitude during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mending Ties

Relations between India and China have improved somewhat in recent years, and the two countries are negotiating to resolve border disputes. Apart from this, China has recently opposed the 50% tariff imposed by the US on India, which makes people feel that the relationship between the two countries is improving. But, despite this, the return of TikTok is not easy.

Return Unlikely

TikTok will have to follow local rules to return to India, which includes storing the data of Indian users within the country and having full control over it. Since TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has strong ties with the Chinese government, this condition may be difficult to meet.

Also, after TikTok, many indigenous apps like Moj and Chingari have replaced it in India, and Instagram has also filled this gap by introducing Reels. Therefore, the possibility of TikTok's return seems low at the moment.