Faced with growing suspicion from US lawmakers, Oracle has now taken on the role of moderator to ensure TikTok's US user traffic isn't being manipulated by Chinese authorities.
As Axios reports, the switch to using Oracle for this task is called "Project Texas" in reference to Oracle's headquarters located in the state. ByteDance struck a deal with Oracle back in 2020 to use it as a trusted technology provider and 100% of TikTok US user traffic is now routed through the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. However, Oracle has now taken on the additional role of vetting the platform for the US.
A spokesperson confirmed to Axios that Oracle is now carrying out "regular vetting and validation" of TikTok's content recommendation system/algorithms, as well as the moderation models it uses. Oracle can see how the algorithms decide what content to show users, "to ensure that outcomes are in line with expectations and that the models have not been manipulated in any way."
For the content moderation process, Oracle is tasked with carrying out regular audits both on the automated systems in use, but also those that involve employees at TikTok and ByteDance. The audit is to ensure moderation only occurs due to the Community Guidelines and not some other source, e.g. pressure from China to censor or push certain types of content.
There has been growing suspicion over how much influence China holds over TikTok, with leaked audio in June revealing China repeatedly accessed US TikTok user data and the platform relied on engineers based in Beijing. Project Texas is meant to ensure that can't happen again, with the onus on Oracle to ensure it can't.