As tensions regarding TikTok’s access to American user data mount, the company has issued a statement indicating that a dedicated U.S. subsidiary staffed by more than 2,000 employees manages data security and content moderation.

The subsidiary, TikTok U.S. Data Security Inc. (USDS), maintains exclusive control over protected U.S. user data within Oracle Cloud infrastructure, with access restricted to approved USDS personnel.

Transparency Centers Amid Scrutiny

The company operates five Dedicated Transparency Centers (DTC) across the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, where more than 100 analysts from Oracle and Independent Security Inspectors conduct ongoing reviews of TikTok’s platform infrastructure.

These centers provide external parties with access to examine TikTok’s complete source code, including the algorithms powering its recommendation system. The first center opened two years ago in Columbia, Maryland, where Oracle continues to analyze code today.

The review process encompasses four main components: recommendation algorithms, mobile application code, backend services, and third-party library integrations. Oracle’s build pipeline converts the reviewed source code into the mobile application, creating a verifiable link between the code examined in the DTCs and the version deployed in U.S. app stores.

Security Infrastructure and Access Controls

The transparency centers operate under strict security protocols, including 24-hour monitoring, controlled access systems, and dedicated security personnel. Digital safeguards, such as data loss prevention tools and traffic monitoring systems, protect proprietary code and sensitive information during third-party reviews.

Oracle maintains continuous access to analyze TikTok’s platform, including its recommendation system and algorithm, reviewing content surfacing mechanisms and verifying alignment with stated commitments. Protected U.S. user data is stored by default in Oracle Cloud infrastructure with controlled and monitored access gateways.

“The facts are clear: TikTok has gone further than any other platform in protecting U.S. user data,” TikTok’s statement reads.

During a 2023 Senate hearing, though, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew acknowledged that some Chinese staff could access U.S. user data, while maintaining that the company would never share such data with the Chinese government. However, the Wall Street Journal later reported that ByteDance staff in China continued to have access to U.S. user information after these statements.

President Trump recently issued an executive order to extend the ban deadline in order to negotiate a new sell-off deal. Sources even claim that Oracle is in talks with the Trump administration about acquiring a stake in TikTok‘s global operations that could be worth “tens of billions” of dollars. 

Meanwhile, Google and Apple still haven’t reinstated the app in their online stores.