TikTok is introducing a knowledge portability API to assist it adjust to new European rules designed to rein in Massive Tech’s market dominance by numerous obligations and restrictions.
The European Union (EU) assigned “gatekeeper” standing to 6 tech corporations final September, with TikTok mother or father Bytedance positioned within the regulatory firing line alongside Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft. Whereas TikTok/Bytedance continues to contest the choice to provide it gatekeeper standing arguing that it’s truly a challenger relatively than an incumbent, for now it has to adjust to the varied DMA obligations that come into power after March 6.
Knowledge transfers
Knowledge portability and interoperability constitutes a significant a part of the DMA rules, and tech corporations have been bolstering their efforts on this entrance for a number of years in preparation. TikTok, for its half, already allowed customers to obtain a replica of their posts and request a replica of their knowledge for the needs of utilizing it on different platforms — however this was a static course of that didn’t account for the truth that knowledge is consistently altering and refreshing.
Thus the information portability API goes a way towards addressing that limitation, permitting third-party builders to construct conduits for knowledge to journey from TikTok to their very own apps — if the person authorizes this. This may be configured for recurring or one-time transfers, and is designed to counter the standard “walled backyard” method that social networks of yore are famed for.
By means of the API, builders can request entry to “all obtainable knowledge,” or particular person classes together with TikTok posts and profile knowledge, exercise, and direct messages (DMs).
The information portability API is obtainable to candidates globally, however the developer should have the ability to display a “well-defined use case” earlier than they are going to be authorised. Furthermore, the API is simply relevant to customers within the European Financial Space (EEA), so the developer should have the ability to distinguish their market segments regionally.
On prime of that, TikTok stated that it’s additionally refreshing its predominant ‘obtain your knowledge’ software, so customers can now select which classes of information they want to obtain (e.g. DMs or posts). This replace will land first within the EEA, however it will likely be made obtainable globally sooner or later.