Controversial chat app ToTok back on Google Play Store

An alternative to apps like Whatsapp, the popular video calling and chat app ToTok – that debuted last year – was all over the media by the end of the year when it was accused for spying. As per reports, the service was being used by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government as a secret surveillance tool.

Before the matter caught notice, the app was pulled from both Google Play Store as well as App Store. When the app was called a spy tool, the co-founders – Giac and Long – denied all the rumors and justified the defamation saying:

our distractors continue to spread misinformation and stir up the “spying” allegations, to vilify our work, to jeopardize our business, even to insult our users by mocking their enthusiastic appreciation of ToTok.

Not only that, in their note, the founders also reflected the app will be reinstated considering its popularity and user base. Here’s how they said this:

Our openness, honesty and transparency are the reasons why ToTok has such a vibrant and loyal user community globally. It is for the same reasons that we are confident Google and Apple will reinstate our app, so the hundreds of thousands of new users who have been waiting will finally be able to join all of us in the ToTok community.

The co-founders also shared a small video on Twitter denying the allegations and requesting Google and Apple to reinstate the app.

Cut to now. Looks like their confidence about the app’s restoration wasn’t baseless, as now it has come to to sight that the app has already made a silent comeback at least at the Play Store (despite the alleged security concerns). However, the Apple App Store is yet to reinstate the same.

The good news came from the service’s official Twitter handle, saying:

The wait is over. We are happy to inform you #ToTok is now available for download on the Google Play Store. Thank you for your patience. Let’s connect!

While Play Store users can download the app once again, when will the App Store users get hands on the same, well there’s no clarity about it as yet. Here’s hoping that also happens soon, so that the app’s dedicated user base can continue to enjoy the service.

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