TikTok lets US government check algorithms in new proposal

Video app TikTok has made a proposal to the US government to address concerns about the app. Parent company ByteDance has US-appointed people check the algorithms that recommend videos.

In the proposal, ByteDance has TikTok’s algorithms checked by independent ‘monitors’, which the US government can designate, reports The Wall Street Journal. They can report problems to ByteDance and if that doesn’t help, go to the US government. ByteDance pays the ‘monitors’.

To ease concerns about user data, all TikTok data traffic in the US goes through an Oracle data center. Oracle employees also have access to TikTok’s software and can therefore detect any problems.

In addition, ByteDance will set up a new business unit in the US to manage this, TikTok US Data Security. 2500 people will be employed there and the US government may impose requirements on those employees. For example, probably no Chinese employees will be employed.

ByteDance sends the proposal to prevent the US government from banning TikTok or ordering ByteDance to sell TikTok in the US. TikTok is already banned on many government phones in the US and a bill is pending to ban the app. The Indian government banned TikTok a few years ago and there is also discussion about this topic in Europe.