American company Oracle starts auditing TikTok's content recommendation algorithm and moderation

TikTok, a short video sharing SNS, is gaining popularity among young people all over the world, but in the past there have been business acquisitions by American companies due to concerns about connections with the Chinese government. It is reported that a major American IT company, Oracle , has begun auditing TikTok's algorithms and content moderation.

Scoop: Oracle begins auditing TikTok's algorithms
https://www.axios.com/2022/08/16/oracle-auditing-tiktok-algorithms

Oracle now monitoring TikTok's algorithms and moderation system for manipulation by China's government | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/16/oracle-now-monitoring-tiktoks-algorithms-and-moderation-system-for-manipulation-by-chinas-government/

Oracle is reviewing TikTok's algorithms and content moderation systems | Engadget
https://www.engadget.com/oracle-tiktok-algorithms-content-moderation-review-171742979.html

With regard to TikTok, which has long been concerned about its connection with the Chinese government, there have been various discussions regarding its separation from China, such as then-President Donald Trump's request in 2020 to `` sell the American business to a company in the country.'' There was movement. Regarding the sale of TikTok's American business, it was reported that Oracle succeeded in acquiring it while Microsoft, Twitter, etc. Suspended indefinitely .

Since then, TikTok has often been controversial regarding its handling of user data and its ties to China. In June 2022, recorded data obtained by overseas media BuzzFeed revealed that the data of American users could still be accessed from TikTok's Chinese office. Brendan Carr, a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States, has developed into a situation calling on Apple and Google, which operate app stores for smartphones, to `` ban TikTok '' .

Report that TikTok is setting up a backdoor that flows American data to China - GIGAZINE

by Solen Feyissa

To address these concerns, TikTok is working with Texas-based Oracle on a project called 'Project Texas' to separate its American business from China. In June 2022, it announced that it had changed the storage location of American user data and transferred 100% of new user traffic to Oracle's cloud infrastructure.

Furthermore, on August 16, the American news site Axios reported that Oracle had begun an audit of TikTok's content recommendation algorithm and content moderation. Axios sources testify that the effort began in August 2022 when user data routing began. A TikTok spokesperson also told Axios that Oracle 'confirms that the results are what you expect and that the models have not been manipulated in any way' about its content recommendation algorithm, and that it also regularly talks about content moderation. I have confirmed that I will conduct an audit.

Regarding TikTok's content recommendation algorithm, it was pointed out in the past that it ``restricted the reach of posts by lesbians, gays, and people with disabilities,'' and the moderation system was also affected by the Chinese government's foreign policy. I have been criticized for having TikTok claims that these approaches have already improved, but they continue to come under scrutiny from US authorities and politicians.

Therefore, it is believed that the purpose of TikTok is to confirm that TikTok's American business has not been manipulated by the Chinese government in an audit by Oracle, an American company, and to appeal to the American authorities for safety. Technology media TechCrunch said, ``Currently, Oracle seems to be in charge of auditing TikTok and helping to prevent data originating from the United States from going to China.The deal is only for hosting user data. It strengthens Oracle's involvement as an auditor who can support or challenge TikTok's claim that TikTok's system is not influenced by China and operates fairly.'

TikTok has also announced that it will provide access to the platform's content recommendation algorithm and de-identified public data from its moderation system to researchers in the second half of 2022.

TikTok says it will share data with select researchers
https://www.axios.com/2022/07/27/tiktok-data-researchers-apis

TechCrunch points out that although the TikTok-Oracle deal has important implications both in the technology industry and politics, it will not lead to an increase in Oracle's presence in the cloud infrastructure market. Oracle's share of the cloud infrastructure market is less than 2%, and cloud revenue growth is roughly proportional to the growth of the market itself.