Rumors have been circulating rapidly on social media and in the tech world that TikTok is making a comeback in India. This speculation stems from the app briefly opening and the company starting new hiring in its Gurugram office. However, what is the truth? Answers to these questions are provided here.
TikTok remains banned in India. Both TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, and the Indian government have made it clear that the app is still banned in the country, and there is no immediate prospect of a return. According to the Indian government, no order has been issued to unblock TikTok. The app is still unavailable on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The ministry has labeled reports of TikTok’s return as rumors.
Despite the ban, TikTok has begun hiring for its Gurugram office in India. Job postings, including Content Moderator (Bengali Speaker) and Wellbeing Partnership & Operations Lead, have been published on LinkedIn and other professional sites. This has led users to believe that TikTok might be returning to India.
The Indian government banned TikTok, along with 59 other Chinese apps, in June 2020. The reasons behind the ban included data security concerns, fears of data transfer to China, and threats to national security.
Following the TikTok ban, several local short video apps gained popularity in India, including Moj, Josh, and MX TakaTak. However, Instagram Reels benefited the most, becoming the most popular short video platform in the country.
The company’s new hiring in India suggests it is still keeping an eye on the market. For a potential return, TikTok would need to establish local data servers in India and comply with regulations and safety standards. New approvals would also be required from the government, similar to how Krafton followed local server and new rules to bring back BGMI (PUBG Mobile) to India.
