Former TikTok executive Katie Puris has filed a lawsuit alleging that ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, has significant control over the social media platform, contradicting claims by TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew that it is not influenced by China. Puris, who first sued TikTok in February for age and gender discrimination, claims that after her initial complaint, TikTok’s lawyers falsely stated that ByteDance did not employ her or any person, as part of an effort to distance TikTok from its Chinese roots.
Puris alleges that several ByteDance executives have control over TikTok’s operations, including marketing, branding, and staffing decisions, with Chew primarily serving as a “conduit” for these executives. She accuses TikTok of misleading Congress about Chew’s level of independence and claims that a supervisor was terminated after ByteDance leaders criticized his marketing decisions, fearing they could harm relationships with other Chinese tech companies. An unnamed U.S.-based senior leader within TikTok reportedly informed Puris that Chinese-based control of the platform had become more extreme since her termination.
President Joe Biden recently signed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a U.S. ban amid concerns about data access by the Chinese government. ByteDance has been given around nine months to start the sale process, with a potential 90-day extension if progress is made. If a sale to a non-U.S. adversary is not completed, TikTok could be banned in the U.S. This development comes after years of scrutiny regarding TikTok’s ties to ByteDance, including allegations of Chinese staff accessing U.S. data and sharing information with ByteDance leadership.
Chew has defended TikTok against accusations of spying on American users and has stated the platform is dedicated to protecting American data from foreign actors. TikTok has also emphasized that all U.S. user traffic is routed to cloud-based infrastructure provided by Oracle and that ByteDance is approximately 60% owned by institutional investors. Despite these claims, concerns among U.S. lawmakers led to the bill signed by Biden mandating the sale of TikTok. The ongoing legal battle and potential ban highlight the complex relationship between TikTok, ByteDance, and the U.S. government.
The lawsuit filed by Puris raises questions about TikTok’s governance and the extent of ByteDance’s influence over the platform. As the legal proceedings unfold and the deadline for a potential TikTok sale approaches, the future of the popular social media app remains uncertain. The allegations made by Puris shed light on the challenges faced by TikTok in navigating its ties to China while operating in the global market. With the Biden administration’s firm stance on data privacy and national security concerns, the outcome of the legal battle and the fate of TikTok in the U.S. are of significant interest to both the tech industry and policymakers.
