Company Directory - ByteDance
Company Details - ByteDance
ByteDance
WebsiteBeijing, China
ByteDance is a technology company that creates innovative digital products using machine learning and artificial intelligence. It is best known for operating TikTok, a popular short-form video platform. The company is also developing AI-powered smart glasses and other digital experiences that leverage data and user engagement to enhance content consumption.
CCI Score
CCI Score: ByteDance
-41.83
0.02%
Latest Event
ByteDance Develops AI-Powered Smart Glasses for TikTok Creators
ByteDance has reportedly started developing its own AI-powered smart glasses, hiring engineers and reaching out to suppliers to prepare for production. The product is being positioned as a content creation tool for TikTok users as it enters a competitive wearable tech market alongside companies like Meta, Google, and Samsung.
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TOADIE
ByteDance is currently rated as a Toadie.
Latest Events
- APR142025
ByteDance has reportedly started developing its own AI-powered smart glasses, hiring engineers and reaching out to suppliers to prepare for production. The product is being positioned as a content creation tool for TikTok users as it enters a competitive wearable tech market alongside companies like Meta, Google, and Samsung.
- FEB192025
OpenSecrets data reveals ByteDance's lobbying activities in the United States, with spending figures compiled from federal records for the period spanning January to December. This information highlights the company's active engagement in influencing U.S. policy.
-30
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 14
The OpenSecrets profile indicates that ByteDance is actively participating in federal lobbying efforts. Such political influence attempts, while common among large corporations, raise concerns about the prioritization of corporate interests over democratic transparency and accountability. In our view, leveraging lobbying as a tool to shape policy can undermine open democratic processes, aligning with broader patterns of corporate complicity in influencing political outcomes in the U.S.
- JUN182024
ByteDance has significantly ramped up its U.S. lobbying efforts and adjusted its campaign donations in 2024, favoring Senate Democrats over Republicans in a strategic move to counter potential legislative actions that could force a sale or ban of TikTok.
+40
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 14
ByteDance’s 2024 campaign contributions reflect a strategic pivot towards supporting Senate Democrats, diverging from previous bipartisan efforts. This move is aimed at countering restrictive legislation that threatens TikTok and free speech, aligning with anti-authoritarian efforts by resisting legislative overreach. Despite including small donations to Republican figures, the emphasis on funding Senate Democrats is seen as a positive, anti-fascist engagement in the political arena.
Global business: ByteDance ramps up its U.S. lobbying, campaign donations as TikTok ban advances
- APR232024
An article reports that ByteDance is ramping up its lobbying and advertising efforts aimed at shaping public opinion and influencing policies. This activity raises concerns about corporate interference in political processes and potential bias in media narratives.
-50
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 14
ByteDance's increased lobbying efforts, as reported in the article, indicate an active attempt to influence political decisions. This form of corporate political behavior can undermine democratic accountability and marginalize public interest, warranting a negative score on anti-fascist principles.
-40
Media Influence and Propaganda
April 14
By leveraging strategic advertising and media partnerships to shape public discourse, ByteDance risks contributing to biased information flows. This use of media influence can manipulate public opinion, a tactic that aligns with authoritarian practices, thereby earning a negative score.
- FEB082024
A former TikTok executive has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court alleging that ByteDance engaged in retaliatory and discriminatory practices on the basis of sex, age, and disability. The complaint includes claims of derogatory comments by senior management, including a statement from ByteDance's chairman suggesting that women should remain quiet and humble, and alleges swift retaliation for speaking out about bias.
-75
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
April 14
The lawsuit alleges significant breaches in labor relations and human rights practices, including claims of sex, age and disability discrimination as well as retaliation for reporting such biases. Such discriminatory practices and hostile treatment of employees, underscored by derogatory remarks from top leadership, align with authoritarian and regressive workplace cultures.
- SEP222023
Two former Black TikTok employees filed a civil rights complaint alleging that ByteDance fired them in retaliation for raising concerns about racial discrimination, highlighting claims of unequal treatment and a hostile work environment.
-80
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
April 14
The article reports that two former Black TikTok employees have filed an EEOC complaint accusing ByteDance of retaliatory termination after raising concerns about racial discrimination. This clearly demonstrates lapses in labor rights and fair treatment practices, which are especially concerning from an anti-fascist, worker-advocacy perspective.
Black ex-employees file civil rights complaint against TikTok
- JUL302023
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, spent a record $5.3 million on federal lobbying in 2022 and an additional $4.28 million in the first half of 2023. The company employed a team of revolving door lobbyists with ties to both major U.S. parties, aiming to influence legislative measures targeting its operations amid concerns over data security and Chinese government links.
-80
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 14
ByteDance's significant and record-setting federal lobbying expenditures signal an aggressive attempt to shape U.S. policy in its favor amid national security and data privacy concerns. The use of seasoned revolving door lobbyists further underscores a strategy that leverages established political connections, which from an anti-fascist, progressive perspective, exemplifies corporate interference in democratic processes.
ByteDance spends millions lobbying, outpacing prior years amid crackdown on TikTok’s China ties
- JUN302023
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, spent a record US$2.14 million on US lobbying efforts during the second quarter. The spending marks a significant increase from previous quarters, as the company seeks to counter mounting US concerns over data privacy and potential Chinese governmental access to US user data.
-60
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 14
ByteDance's record lobbying expenditure in the US, aimed at influencing congressional oversight on data privacy and security, represents an effort to shape political outcomes in its favor amid ongoing scrutiny. Such political engagement, especially when used to deflect regulatory challenges, raises concerns about corporate influence on democratic institutions and aligns with practices that undermine accountability.
- JUN292023
A former TikTok content moderator in Kenya has alleged that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, failed to provide a safe working environment by not offering adequate psychological support amid exposure to distressing content, and subsequently dismissed him after he advocated for better conditions. The allegation, made in a letter dated June 29, 2023, claims violations of Kenya’s Occupational Health and Safety Act and threatens a lawsuit if the demands are not met.
-70
Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices
April 14
The allegations suggest that ByteDance, by controlling key aspects of the content moderation process, neglected to implement necessary measures to protect the mental and physical well-being of its workers. This neglect contributed to severe trauma and an environment in which workers, like the former moderator, were vulnerable to PTSD and retaliatory dismissal after advocating for better conditions, representing a significant breach in labor rights and human dignity.
- MAY132023
A former ByteDance executive has alleged that the Chinese government monitored ByteDance's operations from its Beijing headquarters and provided guidance to advance 'core communist values'. The complaint claims that government officials could disable the Chinese version of the company's apps and maintained access to all company data, raising concerns about ByteDance’s role as a propaganda tool.
-80
Public and Political Behavior
April 14
The allegations indicate that ByteDance has cooperated with the Chinese government by allowing state monitoring and guidance to influence platform content, effectively serving as a propaganda tool to advance authoritarian, core communist values. This action reflects a disturbing alignment with state-directed political influence.
ByteDance Executive Alleges Surveillance by Chinese Government
-75
Media Influence and Propaganda
April 14
The complaint also accuses ByteDance of manipulating content by suppressing or promoting posts in line with government interests, thereby leveraging its platform for propaganda purposes. This facilitates state control over media narratives and undermines democratic norms.
ByteDance Executive Alleges Surveillance by Chinese Government
- MAR312023
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, spent over $13 million lobbying U.S. federal officials since 2019 in an effort to mitigate national security and data privacy concerns, including through initiatives like Project Texas. The intensive lobbying effort is seen as a move to influence Congressional decisions amid debates over the app’s Chinese ownership and potential regulatory actions.
-60
Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts
April 14
ByteDance's deployment of over $13 million in lobbying signifies a significant, self-serving attempt to shape U.S. policy regarding its controversial data practices and Chinese ownership ties. Although the Project Texas initiative aims to secure U.S. user data, the extensive corporate political influence raises concerns about potential undermining of democratic processes and regulatory oversight, aligning with traditional authoritarian business tactics.
- DEC152022
US authorities are probing ByteDance after reports revealed that its employees used TikTok’s capabilities to track the location and access private data of journalists, potentially to identify individuals linked to data leaks. The company has since terminated the involved employees and initiated an internal investigation.
-75
Provision of Repressive Technologies
April 14
Employees at ByteDance used technological tools provided by TikTok to access sensitive location and user data of journalists. This misuse of technology represents a breach of ethical standards and contributes to an environment of surveillance that undermines press freedom, aligning with authoritarian practices. The investigation by US authorities underscores the severity of this violation.
US investigates TikTok owner ByteDance’s surveillance of journalists
Alternatives
Los Angeles, United States
-23.45
Corporation
34.02
Corporation
9.34
Hangzhou, China
-31.95
Cambridge, United States
38.09
San Francisco, United States
14.34
Mountain View, United States
-10.10
Mountain View, United States
-15.87
Menlo Park, United States
-32.43
Menlo Park, United States
-45.88
Corporate Financials
- Revenue
- 2022
- $5.80B
Industries
- 518210
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
- 541613
- Marketing Consulting Services
- 511210
- Software Publishers