TikTok Sparks Speculation of India Return as Website Goes Live—But App Remains Absent

(OT Webdesk)After a five-year blackout, TikTok has quietly resurfaced in India’s digital space—at least partially. The short-video platform’s website is now accessible to some users across the country, reigniting speculation about a potential comeback.

However, the app remains unavailable on both Android and iOS stores, and ByteDance has yet to issue an official statement.

Technical tests reveal that while TikTok’s homepage and “Contacts” page load successfully, deeper navigation leads to error messages or region-based restrictions.

Pages like “Newsroom” and “Careers” return notices such as “Service Temporarily Unavailable” or “Not available in your country.”

TikTok was banned in India in June 2020, alongside 58 other Chinese apps, following national security concerns raised by the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

The move was part of a broader digital crackdown amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

Globally, TikTok continues to face scrutiny. In the U.S., debates around forced divestment and AI-driven moderation persist.

Meanwhile, ByteDance is reportedly restructuring its UK operations to centralize control and enhance content moderation through artificial intelligence.

Whether this partial reappearance signals a strategic re-entry or a technical anomaly remains unclear. For now, Indian users are watching closely—and clicking cautiously.