- TikTok is reportedly working on a US version of its core algorithm in an effort to appease US authorities and potentially avoid a ban. The new version would be independent of its Chinese parent company ByteDance, making it more palatable to US lawmakers who have raised concerns about data security.
- According to reports, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, ordered the code-splitting work to begin in late 2021, before the US Congress passed the TikTok divestiture bill. In the past few months, hundreds of ByteDance and TikTok engineers in the US and China have been ordered to start separating and sifting through millions of lines of recommendation algorithm code.
- Despite the effort, TikTok acknowledges the potential downside.
In response to pressure from US lawmakers concerned about data security, TikTok is working on a major undertaking: creating a separate codebase for its US recommendation algorithm. This would essentially sever the technical connection between the US app and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
TikTok builds US version of the algorithm
TikTok is reportedly working on a US version of its core algorithm in an effort to appease US authorities and potentially avoid a ban. The new version would be independent of its Chinese parent company ByteDance, making it more palatable to US lawmakers who have raised concerns about data security.
According to sources familiar with the matter, TikTok engineers have been tasked with creating a separate codebase for the US algorithm, distinct from the systems used by ByteDance’s Chinese version, Douyin. This would involve eliminating any links or references to Chinese users and data.
The move comes as TikTok faces increasing scrutiny in the US, with lawmakers and regulators concerned about the potential for the app to be used for surveillance or influence operations by the Chinese government. In April, President Biden signed an executive order requiring ByteDance to sell or divest its ownership of TikTok within a year.
TikTok has vehemently opposed the order, calling it unconstitutional and vowing to challenge it in court. The company has also maintained that it does not share US user data with the Chinese government.
The development of a US-specific algorithm could be seen as an attempt by TikTok to address these concerns and demonstrate its commitment to data privacy. However, it remains unclear whether this will be enough to satisfy US authorities and avert a ban.
Also read: US forces TikTok to divest or face ban
Overcoming technical hurdles
According to reports, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, ordered the code-splitting work to begin in late 2021, before the US Congress passed the TikTok divestiture bill. In the past few months, hundreds of ByteDance and TikTok engineers in the US and China have been ordered to start separating and sifting through millions of lines of recommendation algorithm code.
This is a complex and time-consuming process. Separating millions of lines of code requires meticulous review to ensure only US-specific functionality remains. The estimated completion timeframe is over a year.
Also read: TikTok creators and ByteDance fight proposed ban in court
Uncertain impact on performance
Despite the effort, TikTok acknowledges the potential downside. If TikTok completes the work of splitting the recommendation algorithm from its Chinese counterpart, TikTok management will be aware that the separated algorithm may not be able to deliver the same level of performance as the current TikTok, as TikTok heavily relies on ByteDance’s engineers in China to update and maintain the codebase. Without access to the full development power of ByteDance, the US app’s recommendation engine might not perform as effectively, impacting user engagement.
