A report from Reuters reveals that TikTok has been working since last year to develop a recommendation algorithm that operates independently from Douyin, the Chinese version of the app run by its parent company, ByteDance. According to unnamed sources, this project is part of a broader plan to demonstrate to lawmakers that the US business operates independently from its Beijing-based parent. The sources suggest that completing this project could take more than a year.
The report indicates that TikTok executives have discussed the project in all-hands meetings and on the company’s internal messaging system, Lark. The sources also noted that splitting the source code would significantly reduce TikTok’s access to the “massive engineering development power” of ByteDance.
In response to the report, TikTok tweeted, “The Reuters story published today is misleading and factually inaccurate.” In emails, TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes stated, “While we have continued work in good faith to safeguard the authenticity of the TikTok experience further, it is simply false to suggest that this work would facilitate divestiture or that divestiture is even a possibility.” When asked if the code is being split, Hughes asserted that this claim is “100 per cent false.”
TikTok has made previous efforts to convince lawmakers of its US independence, most notably through “Project Texas.” This initiative was described as “an unprecedented effort dedicated to making every American on TikTok feel safe, with confidence that their data is secure and the platform is free from outside influence.” Despite these assurances, there is scepticism regarding whether such technical measures will be sufficient to prevent a US ban.
Additionally, TikTok is currently suing the US government over a law that mandates ByteDance to transfer control of the app to a different entity by January 19th, 2025, or face a ban. According to unnamed sources cited by Reuters, there is no immediate plan to separate the companies; however, they acknowledged that once the code is split, it could potentially lay the groundwork for a divestiture of the U.S. assets.
The ongoing efforts to create a separate algorithm and ensure data security highlight TikTok’s struggle to balance its global operations with increasing scrutiny and regulatory pressure in the United States.
