In late June this year, the United States government called for a ban on TikTok for collecting personal data from users in the country by employees in other locations. Now, the app’s director of security Roland Cloutier will step down from his position.
The executive’s decision was inspired by US claims against the service. Since then, he will take on the role of strategic advisor, working on the impact of security programs for the company’s business.
The company’s CEO, Shaw Zi Chew, has committed to creating a separate entity to manage the data of US users. In addition, Kim Albarella will take over the position left by Cloutier on an interim basis.
In relation to the US allegations, ByteDance had already taken some privacy safeguards in the country, such as moving the US segment of the app to the on-premises Oracle cloud infrastructure – with third-party verification.
The company that owns TikTok also emphasized that employees must pass multiple security checks to access Americans’ data. In addition, personal information cannot be given to third parties – the list includes the Chinese government.
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Henry Lawson is a contributor at Sproutwired.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, accurate and reader-friendly reporting that helps audiences stay informed about current affairs and important developments. With an emphasis on useful information and balanced coverage, Henry aims to highlight stories that matter most to readers, providing context and insight in a straightforward and accessible way.
