Currently, you are unable to view the APKMirror web page. Instead, you get the following message shown in the screenshot below.

Tiktok downloads are currently blocked in the United States due to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

The link in this statement leads to the following page, containing the bill that was passed:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7521

This sets a dangerous precedent going forward for the Android community which sideloads applications onto their phones, being that APKMirror is the largest mirror of APKs for Android phones. It’s also possible for them to add more apps to be included under this bill, and possible for another bill to be passed which may act as an even more broad blanket to target specific groups of people (e.g. LGBTQ+, people of color), messaging applications that are truly secure (e.g. Signal), and so on.

Then of course there a very real possibility of our president forcing the integration of software updates into both Android (and possibly even iOS smartphones) that can forcibly remove applications for the “sake of national security”.


Blocked APKMirror links:

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/tiktok-pte-ltd/tik-tok/

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/tiktok-pte-ltd/lemon8/

  • squid_slime@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    18 hours ago

    This is so confusing, first trump seeks to ban tiktok, then he allows it, and now its banned again?

    • roofuskit@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      edit-2
      5 hours ago

      Tik-Tok going down was a stunt, it wasn’t the law. The law blocks distribution of the app, APK mirror is actually following the law.

      Edit: it’s also unavailable on the play store for anyone questioning this.

    • kalleboo@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      13
      ·
      edit-2
      16 hours ago

      Trump can’t change the law, he can only pinky swear that he won’t enforce it.

      Would you trust Trump’s promise to the tune of $5000/download fines?