TikTok’s Texas-based data protection project for Americans is in turmoil. A former employee claims that there are many loopholes.
TikTok’s efforts to mitigate US privacy concerns are said to have many shortcomings. A self-proclaimed whistleblower told The Washington Post that there are many flaws in the plans of US user data protection company Project Texas. The former member of the Trust and Safety team says the $1.5 billion initiative will still allow TikTok to maintain a relationship with parent company ByteDance Toutiao, a hugely popular Chinese news app. This link could allow China to access US data. A truly secure approach would require a “total rethink”of the service’s infrastructure, according to this former employee.
Texas-based TikTok project to protect Americans’ data amid unrest
The latter also explains that he met with the offices of Senators Chuck Grassley and Mark Warner to discuss these shortcomings. Representatives of the two senators acknowledged that these meetings did take place.
When contacted about this, TikTok did not make an official statement. Anonymous employees of the social giant told The Post that the claims are “unsubstantiated”and that the Toutiao code is just a “naming convention and technical relic”that does not link the app to China. They also believe that moving data from the US to Oracle’s servers seriously disproves the claim that Toutiao could affect US operations. The informant only worked for six months, he had to leave his position before the Texas project was completed. So he may not have a review.
Former employee claims there are many loopholes
TikTok has repeatedly refused to cooperate with the Chinese government, and there is no public evidence that this is the case. Douyin, a similar app that exists in China, has completely separate content.
The timing of this so-called disclosure is not right for TikTok. The House and Senate could eventually ban TikTok outright nationwide if their bills pass, with company CEO Show Tzu Chu due to testify in the House on March 23 to answer questions about security and safety. the youngest users. Politicians fear that the Chinese government may be using TikTok to collect data on Americans and spread its propaganda, and this new report is clearly not helping the cause.