TikTok clones its algorithm to avoid blocking in the US

TIK Tak An important measure will soon be taken to avoid a blockade in the United States. Faced with a law coming into effect that would ban an app unless it decouples from China, the popular video platform is looking for alternatives. One of them will be the creation new recommendation algorithm is aimed exclusively at American users.

According to a report from ReutersTIK Tak will clone its main algorithm to implement it in a standalone version applications. ByteDance engineers split the source code and rebuilt the recommendation algorithm. operate separately from the Chinese parent company. Thus, TikTok will not only be able to operate in the United States, but will also be spared the sale of its assets.

Sources close to the company spoke about this. attempts to clone the algorithm began in 2023., long before the TikTok blocking law was passed. The process is complex and requires participation hundreds of engineers from China and the USA. The goal of the project is to create a code base independent of Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, eliminating ties to the Asian country.

Cloning the TikTok algorithm is harder than it seems

While this would seem ideal for TikTok on paper, the process is actually extremely complex. He recommendation algorithmbetter known as the secret recipe for TikTok success, It consists of millions of lines of code.. ByteDance engineers in China are responsible for its implementation and configuration for different countries.

Obstacles occur not only in the technical area, but also in the legal area. The TikTok algorithm, like the algorithm of other companies, has been owned by the Chinese government for several years. This made the process more difficult because every line of code must be examined in detail to see if it can be included in the new version.

Creating a new algorithm exclusive to the United States would be a herculean effort that may last more than a year. The Chinese company will view this as a last resort to avoid selling assets after failure in other initiatives. TikTok has considered data protection or open-sourcing some of its algorithms, but U.S. lawmakers have rejected the idea, sources said.

After publication Reuters, TikTok has denied rumors about a possible clone of the algorithm. The company outlined its position in a publication on X (Twitter).

“Story Reuters published today is misleading and factually inaccurate. As we said in our lawsuit, a “qualified disposition” is required by law to allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States. This is simply impossible: neither commercially, nor technologically, nor legally.. And certainly not within the 270-day period required by law.”

As a protective measure, TikTok sues the US government for violating the First Amendment to the Constitution. The company notes that its video app is a speech platform used by 170 million Americans. Blocking will violate freedom of speech users.