TikTok Merges Core Product and Trust & Safety Teams Amid US Future Uncertainty

TikTok is merging its Core Product and Trust & Safety teams into a single organization to leverage technical capabilities and move faster in developing safety technology. Adam Presser will become the General Manager of TikTok USDS, while Andy Bonillo will transition to a new role as Senior Advisor. Sandeep Grover will lead Global Trust & Safety, and Jenny Zi will lead TikTok LIVE. The reorganization comes as President Trump extended the TikTok shutdown deadline for a third time.

TikTok has announced a significant organizational restructuring, merging its Core Product and Trust & Safety teams into a single entity. This move aims to leverage technical capabilities and expedite the development of safety technology. The reorganization comes amidst President Trump's extension of the TikTok shutdown deadline for the third time, adding further urgency to the situation.

Adam Presser, currently the head of Operations and Trust & Safety, will take on the role of General Manager of TikTok USDS, a separate entity tasked with safeguarding U.S. national security interests. Meanwhile, Andy Bonillo will transition to a new role as Senior Advisor. Sandeep Grover will lead Global Trust & Safety, and Jenny Zi will oversee TikTok LIVE. This restructuring is designed to streamline operations and enhance the platform's ability to address national security concerns and misinformation.

The decision to merge the teams follows President Trump's executive order extending the TikTok shutdown deadline to September 17. This deadline was previously set to expire on June 29, but Trump's order delayed the enforcement until the new date. The law in the U.S. requires ByteDance to divest from the app or face a U.S. ban, citing national security risks associated with the app's ties to China [1].

TikTok has been under scrutiny due to concerns about data privacy and potential misuse by the Chinese government. The company has maintained that ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government and has denied allegations that it shares user data with Chinese authorities [1]. Despite these denials, the U.S. government has expressed concerns about the app's potential risks.

The merger of the Core Product and Trust & Safety teams is part of TikTok's broader strategy to address these concerns. By combining these teams, TikTok aims to develop more robust safety measures and respond more quickly to emerging threats. This reorganization is also a response to growing pressure from the U.S. government and public concerns about the app's impact on national security [1].

In addition to the organizational changes, TikTok has also rolled out a new crowd-sourced debunking system called Footnotes. This feature allows vetted users to suggest written context for content that might be wrong or misleading, similar to Community Notes on Meta and X. The feature is part of TikTok's efforts to combat online misinformation and enhance the platform's integrity [2].

The future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain, as the app's fate hinges on China's approval of a deal that would give American owners majority control. If China does not agree to the deal by the September 17 deadline, TikTok could face a ban in the U.S. [1].

References:
[1] https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/global-trends/us-news-tiktok-could-go-dark-in-the-us-if-trumps-commerce-secretary-sounds-alarm-over-apps-fate/articleshow/122907350.cms
[2] https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/telcos-media-tech/tiktok-launches-crowd-sourced-debunking-tool-us