By In an intriguing development, TikTok, the popular short-form video app, is contemplating the integration of Google search results into its platform.
The potential feature was brought to light by app researcher Radu Oncescu, revealing a link to search Google for a similar query on TikTok’s search results page. However, TikTok clarified that it does not endorse or bear responsibility for these Google search results.
This potential integration comes shortly after TikTok discreetly began incorporating Wikipedia snippets into its platform, providing direct links to the site.
These snippets, though not visible for every search, do appear for specific locations, companies, and individuals. TikTok confirmed this feature has been live for several months, indicating TikTok’s move towards embracing search functionalities.
This initiative also raises interesting questions about a potential partnership between Google and TikTok.
Notably, Google is currently embroiled in a significant antitrust case initiated by the US Department of Justice, alleging anti-competitive practices in maintaining its search dominance through exclusive deals with companies like Apple to secure Google as the default search engine.
Simultaneously, TikTok finds itself under growing regulatory scrutiny, particularly from the European Commission, which has listed the company as a “gatekeeper” under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The DMA aims to regulate major tech companies, ensuring compliance with specific rules to mitigate anti-competitive practices. For instance, messaging apps must be interoperable with other platforms, and users should have the liberty to install third-party apps and app stores.
As TikTok ventures into integrating Google search results, it navigates a complex landscape of legal and regulatory challenges, seeking to balance user experience and compliance with evolving norms in the tech industry.
