website is live in India. After a five-year absence, the Chinese short video app TikTok has sparked excitement among its former Indian user base. The platform’s website has become accessible for some users in India, leading to widespread speculation of a potential comeback.

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However, the app remains unavailable on Google Play Store and App Store, and there is no statement from the company regarding a return.

Notably, the move is not without its caveats. While some users have reported being able to access the website, others on X say it remains blocked. When the members of the Times of India tech team checked, they were able to access the homepage but not any other page.

When clicked on “Newsroom” a message flashes saying, “You don’t have access to this page Our services aren’t available in your country or region.”

Additionally, a click on “Careers” returns “503 Service Temporarily Unavailable” message. The ‘Contacts’ link on the page too is opening. It is taking to a page that shows ‘Partners’, ‘Media Enquiries’, ‘Legal Enquiries’ and ‘Privacy’.

Why India banned TikTok in 2020

The development has reignited conversations around the 2020 ban. The government initially blocked TikTok along with 58 other Chinese apps, including Shareit and CamScanner, citing national security concerns.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT stated that the apps were “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.”

Meanwhile, TikTok is also facing a ban in the US. However, President Donald Trump has said that he has American buyers ready to acquire TikTok, and he is open to extending the deadline for its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app’s US assets.

The company is also laying off several employees in the UK and said that this move is part of a “reorganisation” to centralise its operations and increase its reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) for moderation.