With TikTok’s US userbase’s data now residing on infrastructure owned and operated by Oracle in the US, the firm has started auditing the app.

The audit is being done to check that TikTok’s algorithm’s and content moderation models aren’t being manipulated by the Chinese government. As Axios reports, TikTok’s Community guidelines in the US will now be determined by Oracle rather than ByteDance in China.

One of the aspects Oracle will be checking is how content is pushed by TikTok’s algorithm. This will allow Oracle to ensure that outcomes are in line with expectations and the models aren’t being manipulated. The app has been at the centre of controversy before with The Guardian reporting in 2019 that moderators were told to censor videos that mention Tiananmen Square, Falun Gong and Tibetan independence.

Also of concern is who has access to the data of US TikTok users. A report from Buzzfeed in June alleged that Chinese employees were able to access the data of US users. This prompted calls from the US Federal Communications Commission for TikTok to be banned but it’s unclear whether this call will be fruitful.

We are curious to see how this audit goes and whether Oracle is able to find anything untoward during its deep dive. One thing is for certain, if Oracle finds anything and the US decides to ban the app, a lot of people will be upset.

While it’s userbase isn’t as big as Facebook or Instagram, TikTok sucks users in. According to a report from Bloomberg, the average user in the US spends 29 hours a month on TikTok compared to 16 hours a month on Facebook and eight hours a month on Instagram.

Let’s see what Oracle’s audit finds.