TikTok parent ByteDance plans to build a research and development centre in Canada to develop its overseas business and better meet user demand, according to a source close to the Chinese multinational internet giant.
Headquartered in Beijing and founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming, ByteDance is best known for creating the highly popular social media platform TikTok, which has gained massive global popularity since its launch.
ByteDance has expanded its operations globally, but this expansion has not been without controversy. TikTok, in particular, has faced scrutiny in various countries over concerns related to data privacy, censorship, and national security.
Besides TikTok, ByteDance owns several other technology products and services, including the news aggregator Toutiao, and platforms like Xigua Video and Helo.
The company’s portfolio covers a wide range of content platforms that utilize advanced artificial intelligence to push personalized content to users.
ByteDance has more than 150,000 employees in over 120 cities around the world.