TikTok is increasing access to its research API to nonprofit academic institutions in the United States, the firm announced on Tuesday. The enlargement comes as TikTok began testing an early model of the research API again in November. universities and researchers may have to apply for access and be accepted by TikTok’s US Information Safety (USDS) division.
At the time of TikTok’s preliminary announcement of the research API final summer season, the firm mentioned researchers at present don’t have a simple means to assess content material or conduct exams on its platform, which is why it noticed the want for a research API.
“TikTok is working to improve transparency with the research neighborhood,” the company notes. “As a part of our efforts to keep accountable to how we reasonable and suggest content material, we’ve constructed an API that features public information on content material and accounts on our platform. This API can be made obtainable to researchers globally, beginning with academic researchers in the United States and increasing to further areas and to embody NGO researchers as we construct capability.”
With the research API, researchers can access public account information, akin to consumer profiles, feedback, together with efficiency information, akin to variety of feedback, likes and favorites that the consumer receives. Researchers can even access public content material information, akin to feedback, captions, subtitles, together with efficiency information, akin to variety of feedback, shares, likes and favorites that the video receives. As well as, researchers can access public information for key phrases search outcomes.
TikTok’s preliminary announcement of the research API got here as the firm was making an attempt to show that it’s not a nationwide safety risk due to its guardian firm’s connection to China. Since then, the firm has continued to face scrutiny, as the U.S. Home of Representatives ordered its workers and lawmakers to delete TikTok from any government-issued cellular units due to safety points with the widespread video-sharing app final December.
No less than 20 states have banned TikTok on government-owned units. As well as, many universities are additionally banning TikTok from their campus networks and units, together with The College of Texas and Texas A&M College.
The research API replace comes as TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is scheduled to appear earlier than the the Home Power and Commerce Committee on March 23. The listening to will mark the first look of a TikTok CEO earlier than a congressional panel.
