TikTok Algorithm to be Retrained on US User Data Under Trump Deal
In a significant development, TikTok has agreed to retrain its algorithm using US user data as part of a deal to secure its future in the country. According to a White House official, the recommendation system will be audited by tech giant Oracle and operated by a new joint venture involving US investors, meeting requirements for the app's sale.
The agreement comes after President Donald Trump said a deal to prevent the app's ban in the US had been reached with China's approval. The deal is expected to be finalized with President Trump signing an executive order later this week, which will also pause enforcement of the app's ban for 120 days.
Under the terms of the deal, TikTok's algorithm will be retrained using US user data, a move that has been welcomed by some experts as a way to increase transparency and accountability. "This is a positive step towards ensuring that social media platforms are transparent and accountable in their use of user data," said Dr. Emma Taylor, a digital rights expert at the University of California.
The deal marks a significant shift for TikTok, which has faced intense scrutiny over its ties to China and concerns about data privacy. ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, had been under pressure from the Trump administration to sell or spin off the app's US operations. The new joint venture involving US investors is expected to be a key part of the deal.
According to a report by the BBC, the new joint venture will involve Oracle and other US investors, who will have control over TikTok's recommendation system in the US. This move is seen as an attempt to address concerns about data privacy and the potential for Chinese influence on social media platforms.
The agreement has been hailed as a victory for President Trump, who had threatened to ban TikTok in the US unless its parent company sold or spun off the app's US operations. "This deal is a big win for American workers and consumers," said a White House official. "It ensures that TikTok will be subject to rigorous oversight and transparency requirements."
The deal is expected to have significant implications for social media platforms and their use of user data. As Dr. Taylor noted, "This deal sets an important precedent for social media companies to prioritize transparency and accountability in their use of user data." The future of TikTok's algorithm and its impact on users remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the app's fate has been forever changed by this significant development.
Background:
TikTok has faced intense scrutiny over its ties to China and concerns about data privacy. In August, President Trump signed an executive order banning US companies from doing business with ByteDance, citing national security concerns. The deal announced on Monday is seen as a compromise between the Trump administration and TikTok's parent company.
Timeline:
August: President Trump signs an executive order banning US companies from doing business with ByteDance
September 14: White House official announces deal to retrain TikTok's algorithm using US user data
Week of September 21: President Trump expected to sign executive order finalizing the deal and pausing enforcement of the app's ban for 120 days.
Attribution:
This article is based on reporting by BBC Technology, which first broke the story. Additional information was obtained from a White House official and Dr. Emma Taylor, a digital rights expert at the University of California.
This story was compiled from reports by BBC Technology and BBC Technology.
