Can TikTok Convince the US It's Not a National Security Threat?
TikTok hopes a new push for "transparency" will help secure its future in the United States.
TikTok is once again facing an uncertain future. The company has spent the past two years quietly negotiating with US government officials to avoid an outright ban. But that process has now stalled and calls for a ban have only intensified.
Next month, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify at a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, his first appearance in Congress. Many lawmakers have called for a more sweeping ban and will likely question Chew about TikTok's alleged risks to national security and Chinese ownership of its parent company.
TikTok has long denied it was a threat and downplayed its ties to China. But now the company is also trying a new tactic to prove it has nothing to hide: its Transparency and Accountability Center. The company first introduced the idea in 2020, but the actual facility only recently opened due to COVID-related delays. Last week, the company took a handful of journalists to tour the center in yet another charm offensive as it tries to fend off regulators and the looming prospect of further bans in the United States.
The company hopes that visitors will leave with a better understanding of how the app works and, perhaps, less mistrust. "We really understand the criticism that big media, big tech, plays around how algorithms work, how moderation policies work, and systems data feeds," says Vanessa Pappas, COO of TikTok. "Many of them represent unprecedented levels of transparency that we offer."
What you'll actually learn from visiting the hub, however, largely depends on what you already know about TikTok when you walk through the door. It is primarily dedicated to explaining the app's content moderation policies and how it handles recommendations, both of which have been thoroughly reviewed.
There are two interactive exhibits: a "moderation station", where visitors can take on the role of a TikTok content moderator, and another room intended to "demystify" the much-vaunted recommendation algorithm. application.
In the moderation room, you can watch sample videos...
TikTok hopes a new push for "transparency" will help secure its future in the United States.
TikTok is once again facing an uncertain future. The company has spent the past two years quietly negotiating with US government officials to avoid an outright ban. But that process has now stalled and calls for a ban have only intensified.
Next month, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify at a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, his first appearance in Congress. Many lawmakers have called for a more sweeping ban and will likely question Chew about TikTok's alleged risks to national security and Chinese ownership of its parent company.
TikTok has long denied it was a threat and downplayed its ties to China. But now the company is also trying a new tactic to prove it has nothing to hide: its Transparency and Accountability Center. The company first introduced the idea in 2020, but the actual facility only recently opened due to COVID-related delays. Last week, the company took a handful of journalists to tour the center in yet another charm offensive as it tries to fend off regulators and the looming prospect of further bans in the United States.
The company hopes that visitors will leave with a better understanding of how the app works and, perhaps, less mistrust. "We really understand the criticism that big media, big tech, plays around how algorithms work, how moderation policies work, and systems data feeds," says Vanessa Pappas, COO of TikTok. "Many of them represent unprecedented levels of transparency that we offer."
What you'll actually learn from visiting the hub, however, largely depends on what you already know about TikTok when you walk through the door. It is primarily dedicated to explaining the app's content moderation policies and how it handles recommendations, both of which have been thoroughly reviewed.
There are two interactive exhibits: a "moderation station", where visitors can take on the role of a TikTok content moderator, and another room intended to "demystify" the much-vaunted recommendation algorithm. application.
In the moderation room, you can watch sample videos...
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