Video: ToTok co-founder asks tech giants to reinstate app

He made his appeals in a video on Twitter.

A co-founder of the communication app ToTok has posted a video on the app's Twitter asking Google and Apple to reinstate the app onto their stores.
The video, now pinned on ToTok's Twitter profile, features co-founder Giac and is addressed directly to the tech giants. It was released late on Friday, December 27.

Message to @Apple and @Google from our Co-Founder.@tim_cook @sundarpichai #totok #apple #google pic.twitter.com/soWwMJxgj9
- ToTok (@ToTokMessenger) December 27, 2019

Giac slams the charges against the app, denying any affiliation with any governments, including that of the UAE, the US or China.
He also alleges that the app was taken down from stores without any prior notice even though each version of the app went through Google and Apple's 'rigorous review processes'.
He has claimed that ToTok was not ready for all the negative publicity and backlash they received after 'underground rumors started to spread' about their small startup.
He has also denied allegations of mishandling data, stating that 'user privacy and data protection have always been our top priority'.
Giac ends the video asking Google and Apple to visit ToTok's offices to address any problems that may be remaining so that they can reinstate the app onto their stores as soon as possible.  
The video comes just a few days after the app put out an open letter addressing the allegations against them.
The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has said that they are monitoring the situation and the claims around the VoIP app, along with other similar apps.
"The TRA would like to confirm that the legal and regulatory framework in the UAE strictly prohibits espionage and any of its forms, and that any of these acts is a crime punishable according to the applicable laws - the authority imposes strict standards to protect the privacy of users." the statement added.