Official statements from TikTok and ByteDance; major news reports

TikTok Engineers Tasked with Code Separation for 170 Million U.S. Users Amid Potential Ban

May 31, 2024, 04:42 PM

In recent months, hundreds of ByteDance and TikTok engineers in both the US and China have been tasked with separating millions of lines of code. This effort aims to split the algorithm that pairs users with videos to their liking for its 170 million U.S. users. The initiative comes as TikTok faces a potential ban or forced sale in the US, driven by national security concerns cited by Congress. Despite reports of the code separation, TikTok has denied these claims. The US government previously rejected an extraordinary deal from TikTok, opting instead for a protracted constitutional battle expected to reach the Supreme Court. The future of TikTok in America remains uncertain, with significant ramifications beyond the video app.