This new lawsuit is spilling the beans for ByteDance's former operations and is now taking it up against the company for the previous actions that made them among the famous names in the industry with TikTok. A former employee of ByteDance has claimed significant actions of the company that helped boost its standing now, using bots in the process.
The former ByteDance employee also said that China-based employees of the company had access to US user data, and this is a significant complaint that lines up with America's probe on a TikTok ban.
ByteDance is Facing a Lawsuit from a Former Employee, Revealing their Actions
ByteDance, the parent company of the wildly popular social media platform TikTok, is now facing a lawsuit from its former head of engineering, Yintao Yu, who claimed that the company resorted to illegal actions to bolster TikTok's success.
According to the New York Times report, the lawsuit alleges a series of concerning practices, including the unauthorized access of user data by China-based employees, the use of bots to artificially inflate engagement and traction in the United States, content theft from platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, promotion of Communist values, and serving as a propaganda tool for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Yu, who departed from ByteDance in 2018, had reportedly been engaged in a battle against the use of content sourced from other platforms even before TikTok underwent its rebranding from Musical.ly.
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ByteDance used Bots to Boost TikTok, Access to US User Data
According to Engadget, Yu claimed that ByteDance not only turned a blind eye to his concerns but also allegedly engaged in illicit practices to expedite the platform's growth.
Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that TikTok deployed bots to manipulate engagement metrics in the United States. By doing so, ByteDance may have allegedly deceived both users and advertisers, compromising the integrity of the platform's success and influencing the perception of TikTok's reach.
TikTok and its Massive Operations Problems in the US
TikTok has been in the heat for some time now, and this is because there are reasons to believe that the app is stealing user data, and is accessible to its Chinese operations. This centered on a US probe that could lead to a ban, but there are concerns that this may lead to further cybersecurity issues.
Yu's lawsuit is an eye-opener to ByteDance's operations.
ByteDance has yet to respond to these specific allegations publicly. However, the company has previously faced scrutiny over security and privacy concerns, prompting investigations and regulatory actions in multiple countries.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications not only for ByteDance but also for the future of TikTok. If the allegations are substantiated, the company may face severe penalties, including potential regulatory intervention and a significant ban.
Additionally, it could lead to increased scrutiny of TikTok's practices by governments and regulatory bodies worldwide.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the accusations made by Yu will undoubtedly shed light on the inner workings of one of the world's most prominent social media platforms.
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