Former TikTok Executive Accuses ByteDance of Extensive Control Over Platform

By Leira Aquino

May 07, 2024 03:07 AM EDT

Katie Puris, a former TikTok marketing executive, claims that ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese-based parent company, exercises significantly more influence over the platform than what was being portrayed.
(Photo : GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)

Former TikTok marketing executive Katie Puris escalated her legal battle against the social media platform on Monday, alleging that ByteDance, TikTok's parent company based in China, exerts far more control over TikTok than previously disclosed.

Puris, who initially sued TikTok for discrimination in February, filed an amended lawsuit on Monday, claiming that ByteDance's influence extends to critical operational aspects of TikTok.

Ex-Exec Claims ByteDance Controls TikTok Operations

Puris's amended lawsuit refutes TikTok's previous claims regarding ByteDance's employment practices, Forbes reported.

She asserts that several top executives from ByteDance directly manage TikTok's day-to-day operations, including marketing strategies, branding decisions, budget allocations, staffing, and terminations.

This contradicts TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's public statements, which portray that ByteDance does not control TikTok.

TikTok's counsel has claimed before that ByteDance didn't employ Puris or anyone else, which Puris disagreed with, calling it "completely untrue."

One essential claim in Puris's lawsuit is that TikTok misled Congress about Chew's autonomy within the company.

Puris alleges that Chew primarily acts as a conduit for ByteDance executives, who are the actual decision-makers at TikTok.

These allegations are crucial as TikTok faces increased scrutiny over data privacy concerns and its ties to China.

Potential TikTok Ban in the US Amid Data Security Concerns

Puris's legal action is part of a broader narrative involving tensions between the US and China in the tech sector.

President Joe Biden recently signed legislation requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a potential ban in the US. This move is due to growing concerns about data security and foreign influence on American digital platforms.

Neither TikTok nor ByteDance have responded publicly to Puris's amended lawsuit at the time of writing.