"'Forced Sale Crisis' TikTok Separates US Recommendation Algorithm from China"

Chinese ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is reportedly developing a new recommendation algorithm for US users in anticipation of a forced sale of TikTok in the United States, according to foreign media reports. However, TikTok has denied this.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the 30th (local time), according to major foreign media, hundreds of engineers from ByteDance and TikTok have been engaged in separating millions of lines of code related to the video recommendation algorithm over the past few months.

Their mission is to create a separate codebase independent from Douyin, ByteDance's Chinese version of TikTok. Multiple sources also reported that information linked to Chinese users is being deleted.

A source explained, "This is a replication task of the recommendation algorithm for 170 million US users," adding, "It will be operated independently from the Chinese parent company, which will better meet the demands of the US Congress."

Accordingly, if the algorithm-related code is separated, it is expected to reduce dependence on the Chinese parent company and lay the groundwork for a future sale of US assets. Currently, the Chinese government has designated content recommendation algorithms as export-controlled items, so approval from Chinese authorities is required for TikTok's sale. However, sources also added that there are currently no plans to sell US assets.

Previously, the TikTok ban law enacted in the US stipulates that if ByteDance does not sell TikTok's US business rights within 270 days (the president can extend by 90 days), the service will be banned in the US. The Biden administration and the US Congress have raised concerns that sensitive user information collected by TikTok could pose a serious security threat if it flows to Chinese authorities. Meanwhile, TikTok has filed a lawsuit against the US government, claiming the law violates the Constitution.

Meanwhile, TikTok stated through an online post that "the report is false and inaccurate in terms of facts."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.