TikTok CEO Faces US Lawmakers; discuss ties with China

TikTok’s chief executive faced harsh questions on Thursday from US lawmakers convinced the Chinese-owned video app should be banned for being a “tool” of the Chinese Communist Party and for offering content that can harm the mental health of users. children.

The testimony of Shou Zi Chew, the company’s CEO, before Congress capped a week of actions by the Chinese company aimed at convincing Americans and their lawmakers that the app creates economic value and supports freedom of expression.

Instead, congressmen accused the company of espionage and deception, adding to calls to ban the app.

TikTok, which has more than 150 million users in the United States, came under repeated attacks during the hearing, with no lawmakers offering their support.

Many, often noting that they were parents themselves, spoke of the need to curb the power the app has over America’s children.

Lawmakers generally called Chew’s responses to China and child-directed content evasive, with Democratic Rep. Tony Cárdenas calling Chew a “good dancer with words” when commenting on Chew’s responses.

“TikTok might be designed to minimize harm to children, but the decision was made to aggressively drug children in the name of profit,” Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor said at the House Energy and Commerce committee hearing. Representatives.

Chew responded to many pointed questions by calling the issues “complex.” He did not announce any new efforts to safeguard privacy, instead resorting to explanations about ongoing efforts, which have failed to appease critics.

Republicans and Democrats also raised numerous concerns about its potential to threaten US national security by sharing its data with the Chinese government.

TikTok has said it has spent more than $1.5 billion on what it calls rigorous data security efforts under the name “Project Texas,” which currently has nearly 1,500 full-time employees and contracts with Oracle Corp to store data. data from US TikTok users.

It also states that it strictly controls content that may harm children.

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