TikTok creates Project Clover to prevent spying worries

Social media giant TikTok has launched a new project to allay Western governments’ fears over spying. ‘Project Clover’ will ensure that a separate and independent security company will oversee how the company uses and shares data.

Byte Dance, the company behind TikTok, says that an extra layer of security gateways will be applied to European user data and the transfer of that data outside of Europe.

So far, the European Commission and the US Senate, and Congress have banned TikTok from employee devices. Similarly, the Netherlands recently followed suit amid security fears.

TikTok is allegedly planning a similar project called Project Texas to tackle US-based security problems. “We’re ahead of the curve on this because we have to be – because we need to earn trust,” TikTok vice-president of government relations and public policy in Europe Theo Bertram told the BBC.

It’s certainly an interesting development and not something we have seen social media companies need to address before. Any connection with China seems to create tension at the moment. It wasn’t that ago that Huawei was essentially prevented from opening within the US, and drone and gimbal brand DJI has faced similar accusations about its relations with the Chinese government.