Douyin international registration claim debunked, over 10,000 fake foreign user accounts removed

A recent report claiming that Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, has opened international registration has been debunked as a rumor. TechNode confirmed that while Douyin’s registration page has always allowed users to input overseas phone numbers, verification still requires a Chinese ID card, a Hong Kong/Macau travel permit, or a foreign permanent residence permit. There is no option to verify with a foreign passport. Li Liang, vice president of Douyin’s parent company ByteDance, took to Chinese social media platform Weibo to clarify that having an overseas IP does not equate to being an international user. Li also highlighted a rise in fake foreign user accounts, with some malicious groups attempting to create fake profiles by reposting videos from international sources to gain followers. Douyin said it has removed over 10,000 fraudulent accounts. [Weibo, in Chinese, TechNode reporting]