Apple Updates TestFlight to Block Access to TikTok Beta in U.S.

[MacRumors]

Apple tonight updated its beta testing app TestFlight, seemingly to block U.S. users from accessing the TikTok beta on the iPhone and other devices.

The update adds this fine print to the app, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris:

Apple may use the IP address of your internet connection to approximate your location in order to determine whether certain beta apps that are subject to legal restrictions in some regions can be made available to you.

This development comes after Apple removed TikTok from the App Store in the U.S. earlier tonight. In the U.S., a law banning TikTok unless Chinese company ByteDance divests ownership of the platform takes effect Sunday, January 19. The app is "temporarily unavailable" in the U.S., according to an in-app notice being shown to users tonight.

More details about the ban and what comes next are outlined in our earlier report.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple Updates TestFlight to Block Access to TikTok Beta in U.S.

 

[zorinlynx]

I do have to say one thing, Apple sure is quick to lick the boots. That's a bit unsettling.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I do have to say one thing, Apple sure is quick to lick the boots. That's a bit unsettling.

Of course, according to the original article if they refuse to comply they may have to pay *billions* in fines.
They certainly aren’t going to risk that for one app, and neither will Google, which is why it’s also gone from the play store as well.
And every other US application retailer.

 

[Analog Kid]

I do have to say one thing, Apple sure is quick to lick the boots. That's a bit unsettling.

Lick the boots? You mean comply with the law?

I think the law is stupid and misguided but it's been upheld through every court up through the Supreme Court. ByteDance has already turned off the service, so there's no content for the app to display. What part of complying by ending new downloads of an app that has no content to display qualifies as "licking the boots"?

 

[Adora]

The update is U.S. only too? At least I don't see one. (Edit: Update just arrived, everything still there)

But I have too TikToks in TestFlight, although I never used it.But it seems the Chinese one is gone since a while already. Could also be I deleted it.

P.S.: Anyone else not seeing a cursor in Safari on Mac here? Also the "Attach files" button didn't work and I had to drag it in. Everything normal again in the next post.

 

[Adora]

It's even on the front page of my App Store. I better installed it, maybe it's worth much money soon. 🙃

 

[foobarbaz]

I do have to say one thing, Apple sure is quick to lick the boots. That's a bit unsettling.

Whose boots? This is a law that was signed by Biden and Trump is actually against it. Following a law is not appeasing Trump, and certainly not this specific law.

Your statement might be true in general, but this is not an example of it.

 

[Takeo Apple]

It's even on the front page of my App Store. I better installed it, maybe it's worth much money soon. 🙃

View attachment 2473710

dude this is not flappy bird which does not need a connection to the internet - this won't be worth ********. Just like Fortnite on iOS isn't worth anything.

 

[Takeo Apple]

I do have to say one thing, Apple sure is quick to lick the boots. That's a bit unsettling.

glad you are not in charge of managing the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people and trillions of dollars over an app. Maybe you should launch a TikTok alternative if you think it is worth any legal trouble lol.

 

[Zest28]

I do have to say one thing, Apple sure is quick to lick the boots. That's a bit unsettling.

I guess I'm "licking the boots" too as I don't break any laws.

 

[Adora]

dude this is not flappy bird which does not need a connection to the internet - this won't be worth ********. Just like Fortnite on iOS isn't worth anything.

Was just a joke. Do you even need the app to use TikTok? I can open the video links in every desktop browser.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Do you even need the app to use TikTok? I can open the video links in every desktop browser.

What URLs are you able to open? Any beginning with www.tiktok.com currently display this:

Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now​

A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now.

We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!

In the meantime, you can still log in to download your data.

 

[steve09090]

I do have to say one thing, Apple sure is quick to lick the boots. That's a bit unsettling.

So if the Orange man grants a 90 day reprieve, you’ll be on here saying he’s licking the boots?

 

[SteveLV702]

I’m banned and I’m not even in the United States… I live in Lima, Peru but as of like 10:30pm last night Peru Time I have not been able to access TikTok.

 

[JitteryJimmy]

We should all feel safer now that the Chinese government won't be directly collecting personal data through TikTok. Now our data is very safely in the hands of data brokers, who will only reveal our personal data to government officials, or to the highest bidders. If China wants our data, they’re going to have to buy it at market rates, just like every other country.

 

[AppliedMicro]

Land of the Free, my ass!

This wouldn’t have happened if Apple allowed sideloading (a.k.a. normal installation of applications).

Welcome to your totalitarian future where government can control what software you can install on your devices - gladly powered and enforced by Apple.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

Apple created that walled garden. So Apple can't take those potential fines as an excuse now. Without that walled garden it could not block apps and therefore could not be fined.

I wonder though if Apple could also block the browser version of TikTok.

 

[steve09090]

Land of the Free, my ass!

This wouldn’t have happened if Apple allowed sideloading (a.k.a. normal installation of applications).

It is Apples fault that a foreign government controlled company is banned from collecting data? I really thought I’d heard everything but then someone comes up with some rubbish to blame Apple. What a load of anti Apple crock

TikTok is banned on Android as well, and you can sideload to your hearts content.

 

[AppliedMicro]

It is Apples fault that a foreign government controlled company is banned from collecting data? I really thought I’d heard everything but then someone comes up with some rubbish to blame Apple. What a load of anti Apple crock

Apple’s policies and their status as a gatekeeper for the installation of apps provide government the means for censorship and control of mass communication media media.

 

[SW3029]

Funny how everyone crucifies Apple when the company complies with Chinese law, but when Apple complies with US censorship laws, Apple is suddenly "just abiding by the law of the country as they should."

 

[JosephAW]

Apple is finally good at one thing and getting the process of eliminating apps streamlined, they have lots of experience over the years booting apps.

 

[steve09090]

Apple’s policies and their status as a gatekeeper for the installation of apps provide government the means for censorship and control of mass communication media media.

As do stores that sell cigarettes, or dealerships that sell cars, or pharmacies for medicines. Anything that has controls on it, that are regulated by laws are susceptible to those controls.

Newspapers and TV media, and indeed online media are a prime example that often have to have specific ownership restrictions for that country.

Apple are in no way an outlier. And it certainly has nothing to do with side-loading. That’s just ridiculous.

Apples policy here is to comply with the law. Same as every other platform, including Windows, Android, Linux, Chrome blah blah…

Sideloading… 🙄

Funny how everyone crucifies Apple when the company complies with Chinese law, but when Apple complies with US censorship laws, Apple is suddenly "just abiding by the law of the country as they should."

100%. As I said above. Apples policy is to comply with the laws of the countries they are operating. Nothing more nothing less..

 

[AppliedMicro]

As do stores that sell cigarettes, or dealerships that sell cars, or pharmacies for medicines. Anything that has controls on it, that are regulated by laws are susceptible to those controls.

Exactly.

Apple are in no way an outlier.

Of course they are.

Most of the popular general purpose computing platforms used by consumers allow installation of any app, free from restrictions of the operating system developer. Linux and Windows certainly do. macOS - well, it used to, but Apple have tightened their grip over that more and more lately.

And it certainly has nothing to do with side-loading.

If side-loading is (or includes) the installation of software applications, then yes, it certainly has to do with that.¨

Apples policy is to comply with the laws of the countries they are operating. Nothing more nothing less..

Of course. Most companies active in markets with totalitarian governments do. Just as they did when they removed the VPN apps in China.

Apple's "policy" is also to be a unavoidable middleman for the distribution and installation of applications on their devices. Apple has chosen to assume that position as a gatekeeper - and as such, they "comply with the laws" and orders of government.

Companies (can only) comply with laws and government orders within their "sphere of influence". It's just that Apple has taken the latter, have expanded their iron grip on consumers to almost unprecedented levels in personal computing.

There is no law requiring them to be such gatekeeper. There is no law that saying that the developer of an operating system must control and regulate the installation of applications by its users.


If I were a totalitarian government seeking control of mass communications media (and interpersonal communication), the first thing I would do: Make sure that all applications installable on personal computing devices used by the populace have to be approved - and can be withdrawn on the flick of a switch - by one or a few gatekeepers that "comply with my laws" and orders.

 

[switz]

An advantage to this ban is that there is now more band width for other necessary stuff. Band width is a finite resource.

 

[mreg376]

do have to say one thing, Apple sure is quick to lick the boots. That's a bit unsettling.

An uniformed and simplistic response.