Here are the letters that let Apple and Google ignore the TikTok ban

TikTok's fate in the US remains uncertain, but new information has come to light about the legal proceedings that have allowed Apple, Google, and other platforms to continue supporting the app. In January, TikTok was briefly banned, but the ban was delayed, and the app was restored to Apple and Google's app stores in February. At the time, it was reported that the Justice Department had given assurances to tech platforms that they wouldn't be penalized for violating the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. Letters sent to Apple, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and other firms have now been made public, revealing the details of these assurances. In a January 30 letter, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Apple and Google that an abrupt shutdown of TikTok would interfere with the President's constitutional duties, and they could continue to provide services to TikTok without incurring legal liability. A follow-up letter on April 5 stated that the Department of Justice was relinquishing any claims against the companies for violating the Act during the specified period. The letters were disclosed in a Freedom of Information Act Request made by a software engineer and Google shareholder who is suing Google for not complying with the TikTok ban. The law has been paused three times since Trump took office, and he recently stated that details about TikTok's new ownership could be made public in about two weeks. The app's service was restored on January 19, and it returned to Apple and Google's app stores on February 13. The legal wrangling has allowed TikTok to continue operating in the US despite the ban.