TikTok, the popular short-video app banned in India since June 2020, has once again sparked speculation about its possible return after opening up fresh hiring in the country. Despite the ban not being officially lifted, the company has posted job openings on LinkedIn for its Gurgaon office.
The two positions currently advertised are for “Content Moderator (Bengali Speaker) – Trust and Safety” and “Wellbeing Partnership and Operations Lead – Trust and Safety.” This development comes just weeks after TikTok India’s website became accessible again, fueling chatter that the government may be considering relaxing restrictions.
However, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has categorically denied any such move. “The Government of India has not issued any unblocking order for TikTok. Any such statement or news is false and misleading,” sources clarified.
TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, was among 59 apps banned in June 2020 following the Galwan Valley clashes between India and China. The ban cited security concerns, alleging that user data, including location information, was being transferred to servers in China. The decision was strongly backed by then Home Minister Amit Shah and Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla before the IT Ministry issued the formal ban order.
Before being banned, TikTok had nearly 200 million users in India, making it one of its largest markets. The app was particularly popular among young creators and small-town audiences. Its sudden ban had a major impact on the country’s influencer economy, paving the way for homegrown alternatives like Moj, Josh, and MX TakaTak.
While TikTok’s hiring move has raised eyebrows, the app remains unavailable on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store in India. For now, the recruitment appears to be focused on backend operations rather than public relaunch, though industry watchers believe ByteDance is preparing groundwork for a potential return if regulatory conditions ease.