Recent reports have ignited speculation about TikTok’s potential return to India. The temporary opening of the app and the company’s recruitment efforts in Gurugram have fueled the discussion. However, what is the current situation?
TikTok remains banned in India. Both ByteDance and the Indian government have affirmed that the app is still blocked in the country. There is no confirmation of an immediate unblocking. The app continues to be unavailable on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The government has characterized reports of TikTok’s return as unsubstantiated.
In spite of the ban, TikTok has initiated hiring for its Gurugram office. This includes roles such as Content Moderator (Bengali Speaker) and Wellbeing Partnership & Operations Lead. These job postings have been seen on LinkedIn and other professional platforms. This activity has led to speculation about a possible TikTok comeback.
The Indian government banned TikTok, along with 59 other Chinese apps, in June 2020. The ban was due to concerns regarding data security, the potential for data transfer to China, and implications for national security.
Several local short video apps, including Moj, Josh, and MX TakaTak, benefited from the TikTok ban in India. Instagram Reels experienced the most significant surge in popularity, emerging as the leading short video platform in the country.
TikTok’s recent hiring activity in India suggests that the company is still considering the market. If TikTok were to return, it would need to establish local data servers in India, adhere to regulatory requirements and safety standards, and obtain approvals from the government. Krafton followed a similar approach when reintroducing BGMI (PUBG Mobile) to India, setting up local servers and complying with new regulations.
