TikTok is giving access to its algorithm and challenged rivals
TikTok has announced that it’s taking new measures to give outsiders access to the algorithms it uses to sort and share users videos and it will be letting experts “observe our moderation policies in real-time.”
In a blog post published Wednesday, TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer said the changes put it “a step ahead of the industry” and challenged rivals to follow suit. “[W]e believe our entire industry should be held to an exceptionally high standard,” writes Mayer. “That’s why we believe all companies should disclose their algorithms, moderation policies, and data flows to regulators. We will not wait for regulation to come, but instead TikTok has taken the first step by launching a Transparency and Accountability Center for moderation and data practices.”
On the other hand, The tech giants Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon face the House Judiciary’s antitrust panel today, and although TikTok is not among the companies facing the scrutiny of Congress, it’s certain to be mentioned during the proceedings. In past appearances, Mark Zuckerberg has pointed to TikTok as an example of competition within the social app space and use the company as a demonstration of why American tech firms need to be free to counter the rise of China.
In Zuckerberg’s prepared remarks, published yesterday, the Facebook CEO presents the competition between Facebook and its foreign rivals as an ideological battle.
Facebook’s arguments, though, will certainly find a sympathetic ear in Congress. US politicians have been warning about the dangers of TikTok’s influence for months now, with the Trump administration going so far as to suggest a ban could be in the works.
