Was TikTok’s Project Texas all talk and no action? Former employees say so!

TikTok, the short-form video app that exploded in popularity in recent years, has faced intense scrutiny over its data security practices. Concerns stem from TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance, a Chinese tech company. US lawmakers have worried that user data collected by TikTok could be accessed by the Chinese government.

In an attempt to alleviate these concerns, TikTok announced Project Texas in 2020. This initiative aimed to store US user data on servers located in the United States and operated by Oracle, a US cloud computing giant. The idea was to create a physical and legal separation between US user data and ByteDance’s servers in China.

A flashback to US data and Project Texas

• 2019: US lawmakers begin expressing concerns about TikTok potentially being used for data collection by the Chinese government.
• 2020: TikTok announces Project Texas, aiming to store US user data on Oracle servers.
• 2023: Several former TikTok employees raise doubts about the effectiveness of Project Texas.

This move by TikTok was met with mixed reactions. Some saw it as a positive step towards data security, while others remained skeptical. Now, new reports from Fortune based on interviews with former TikTok employees have cast a shadow of doubt on the effectiveness of Project Texas.

Former employees say Project Texas was a sieve, not a safe

According to the report by Fortune, several former employees allege that Project Texas has not achieved its intended goal of fully isolating US user data. They claim that a significant amount of data, including user comments, messages, and even some video content, is still being routed through servers located in China.

One example is Evan Turner, a former data scientist who says he was reassigned to a US manager on paper but still reported to executives in China. He alleges sending regular data spreadsheets on hundreds of thousands of US users to Beijing for algorithm development purposes. This data reportedly included names, email addresses, IP addresses, and user demographics.

These allegations raise serious questions about the transparency and efficacy of Project Texas. If true, it would suggest that TikTok may not be taking sufficient steps to protect the privacy of its US users.

Lawsuit claims deeper ties

Another former employee, Katie Puris, adds fuel to the fire with her discrimination lawsuit against TikTok. Puris, previously the head of business marketing, alleges she was fired due to not being considered submissive enough by her Beijing superiors.

Katie Puris was fired as she filed a discrimination lawsuit against TikTok, alleging increased control by ByteDance executives over TikTok’s operations (Image credit)

Her lawsuit claims that ByteDance executives increased control over TikTok’s daily operations in 2020, holding regular meetings led by their chairman. This suggests decisions weren’t as independent as TikTok portrays.

Independence vs. Xenophobia

While Congress considers banning TikTok unless it severs ties with ByteDance, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew insists on the company’s autonomy. He emphasizes that US user data resides on US soil, managed by an American company with American personnel.

Some former employees also downplay concerns, suggesting they stem from xenophobia. They point out that questioning Chew’s affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party (he’s actually from Singapore) highlights this. Additionally, a former manager believes Project Texas, alongside its European counterpart, made significant progress in data separation.

When reached out for a comment to a TikTok employee, they said “Today’s article from @iamsternlicht is factually inaccurate…” in a post from their official TikTok Policy account on X with the following words:

Today's article from @iamsternlicht is factually inaccurate.

Facts matter.

FACT: Our secure environment for protected U.S. user data was isolated in January 2023 and is overseen by USDS personnel. After that point, new protected U.S. user data was inaccessible to anyone outside…

— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) April 15, 2024

With conflicting reports, a looming lawsuit, and an ongoing debate about independence, the true effectiveness of Project Texas remains shrouded in mystery. The US government might choose to push forward with a ban, while TikTok continues to assert its autonomy.

Featured image credit: Freepik