India banned TikTok because of concerns about national security and the protection of user data. Those concerns are not the same as proven misuse of data. Do you want to know whether you can currently use TikTok in India? Check whether there is a recent official decision. A report about a possible return is not enough.
Below, you can read why India took action, what TikTok said in response and what you should look out for as a user.
Why did India ban TikTok in 2020?
With the official Indian decision India blocked 59 apps, including TikTok, on 29 June 2020.
The decision explains why the government intervened. It does not in itself prove that TikTok misused data. These are two different questions: what risks did the government identify, and what actually happened to the data?
So do not read a headline such as ‘TikTok banned because of data risks’ as ‘TikTok sold data’. Separate evidence is needed for the latter claim.
What did TikTok say about the ban and concerns regarding China?
In its response of 29 July 2020 TikTok stated that it was working with India and had not shared data from Indian users with foreign governments.
This is TikTok’s own statement. It is not an independent review and therefore does not prove that there was no risk.
When reading reports about China, it is important to pay attention to the precise claim. Could a foreign government potentially access data? Was data shared? Or was it sold? These are three different things. The ban alone does not prove that TikTok sold data to China.
Is TikTok still banned in India?
A statement from 2020 does not tell you whether the ban still applies. To know that, you need a recent official decision about lifting or continuing the block.
Do you see news about TikTok returning? Then check the following:
- The date: is it a new report, or is an old article being shared again?
- The source: has the Indian government confirmed the news, or is someone merely expressing an expectation?
- What it actually says: has the block really been lifted? And does it state from when?
Discussion about a return is not yet a decision. Even if a website opens again, that does not automatically mean that the entire ban has been lifted.
What does the TikTok ban mean for the Netherlands and Belgium?
The Indian decision does not automatically apply to your phone in the Netherlands or Belgium. When reading news about a ban, pay particular attention to whom the rule applies.
- A nationwide block: restricts access to an app or website in a country.
- A rule for work phones: applies to certain devices or employees.
- A privacy advisory: explains risks to your data, but is not in itself a ban.
A headline about a Dutch or Belgian TikTok ban may therefore concern a specific group, not all users. You can read more about that broader question in the article about whether TikTok will be banned.
What does the TikTok ban mean for creators and travellers?
Are you travelling to India? Before you leave, check whether you can use TikTok there. Also keep important travel information outside the app, such as an address you found in a video.
Do you make videos yourself? Save the original files on your phone or somewhere else outside TikTok. That way, you will still have your own videos if the app is unavailable.
A fictional example: you want to share a short video with your family every day during a trip. Also agree in advance on another way to stay in touch. This means your communication does not depend on one app.
Do you want to reach people in India through TikTok on behalf of a shop or brand? First check whether the app is available there. The fact that people know TikTok does not yet mean that they can view your posts there. If you also publish your own content, our TikTok services includes packages for followers and likes. The product pages show the available quantities and prices.
