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Speculation has been rife across social media and the tech world that TikTok is making a comeback in India. This buzz stems from the app briefly becoming accessible and the company starting new hiring in its Gurugram office. However, what’s the truth? Answers to these questions and more can be found here.
TikTok remains banned in India. Both TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, and the Indian government have clarified that the app is still banned in the country, with no immediate prospect of a return. The Indian government has stated that no order has been issued to unblock TikTok. The app remains unavailable on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The ministry has dismissed reports of TikTok’s return as rumors.
TikTok has begun hiring in India. Despite the ban, TikTok has posted new job openings for its Gurugram office. These include positions for Content Moderator (Bengali Speaker) and Wellbeing Partnership & Operations Lead. These jobs have been advertised on LinkedIn and other professional platforms. This is what led users to believe that TikTok might be returning to India.
Why was TikTok banned? In June 2020, the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok. This decision was prompted by concerns over data security, the fear of data transfer to China, and threats to national security.
Who benefited from the TikTok ban? Following the TikTok ban, several local short video apps gained popularity, including Moj, Josh, and MX TakaTak. However, Instagram Reels benefited the most, becoming the most popular short video platform in the country today.
Will TikTok really return? The company’s new hiring in India suggests that it is still keeping an eye on the market here. To potentially return, TikTok will need to establish local data servers in India, adhere to regulations and safety standards, and obtain new approvals from the government. This is similar to how Krafton followed local server and new rules to bring back BGMI (PUBG Mobile) to India.
