A deal has been signed to split TikTok in the US off from the rest of the world which secures the future of the app for Americans, albeit with the caveat that the algorithm will be trained on US data so the experience may be a little different. The deal effectively splits the US app from TikTok’s global business.
This comes after years of uncertainty, and at least for the 7.5 million businesses trading on the entertainment platform it gives surety that they’ll be able to carry on selling to 200 million consumers across the US.
TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC has been established as a majority American owned Joint Venture, which will operate under defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation, and software assurances for US users.
TikTok USDS Joint Venture
TikTok USDS Joint Venture’s mandate is to secure U.S. user data, apps and the algorithm through comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity measures. It will safeguard the U.S. content ecosystem through robust trust and safety policies and content moderation while ensuring continuous accountability through transparency reporting and third-party certifications.
- Data Protection: U.S. user data will be protected by USDS Joint Venture in Oracle’s secure U.S. cloud environment. The Joint Venture will operate a comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity program that is audited and certified by third party cybersecurity experts. The program will adhere to major industry standards, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) CSF and 800-53 and ISO 27001 as well as the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Security Requirements for Restricted Transactions.
- Algorithm Security: The Joint Venture will retrain, test, and update the content recommendation algorithm on U.S. user data. The content recommendation algorithm will be secured in Oracle’s U.S. cloud environment.
- Software Assurance: The Joint Venture will secure U.S. apps through software assurance protocols, and review and validate source code on an ongoing basis, assisted by its Trusted Security Partner, Oracle.
- Trust & Safety: The Joint Venture will safeguard the U.S. content ecosystem and have decision-making authority for trust and safety policies and content moderation.
nteroperability enables the Joint Venture to provide U.S. users with a global TikTok experience, ensuring U.S. creators can be discovered and businesses can operate on a global scale. TikTok global’s U.S. entitieswill manage global product interoperability and certain commercial activities, including e-commerce, advertising, and marketing.
