ByteDance’s music streaming service Resso has announced the closure of its operations in India as of January 31. The move comes as the Indian government launched an investigation into the company’s data handling policy. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology had sought information on the data processing of Indian customers by the company. According to a report in The Economic Times, India had become the largest market in the world for the Resso app.
A spokesperson from ByteDance confirmed the decision, citing “local market conditions” in India. The service has previously been closed in Brazil and Indonesia, with its free service relaunched as TikTok Music. TikTok parent company ByteDance has faced criticism and scrutiny over its data harvesting processes in the past. Western countries have raised concerns over data security and user privacy, with some seeking to restrict access to TikTok.
A report by the Information Commissioner’s Office in 2023 found that TikTok violated several regulations under UK GDPR. The fine imposed was £12.7 million, with the company accused of allowing 1.4 million UK children under 13 to use its platform. ByteDance relaunched the service in Brazil and Indonesia as TikTok Music, which has begun testing in Singapore, Australia, and Mexico, with a global rollout anticipated. The service differentiates from other competing streaming apps by allowing more interactivity from users, including sharing and commenting on social media.
Despite the success of TikTok, ByteDance has faced mounting criticism over privacy concerns and data handling. The decision to pull its music streaming service from the Indian market, due to government scrutiny, will undoubtedly raise further questions over its operations
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