National Security Threat: US lawmakers grill TikTok CEO, 5 things to know
Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, was questioned by lawmakers about data security and inappropriate content but evaded difficult questions about China's abuses of Uyghur human rights. TikTok is facing a potential ban in the US and fears from China's communist government.
In just a few short years, TikTok's American user base has exploded to 150 million, but its growing hegemony is under threat from a potential nationwide ban in the US and rising concerns among officials about safeguarding user data from China's communist government.
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What happened during TikTok CEO-US Congressional hearing?
Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, faced a hostile congressional hearing on Thursday. China's Commerce Ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting said China's government would have to approve any sale to a US entity, undermining any assurances Chew might have been able to give about how the platform secures US data.
Senator Michael Bennet and Maryland Democrat John Sarbanes questioned Chew's control over the algorithm, while Florida Republican Gus Bilirakis played a compilation of TikTok videos about suicide.
Chew defended TikTok as no different than other social media giants, but a US TikTok ban would benefit YouTube, Instagram, and Snap, likely resulting in a higher revenue share of the total advertising wallet.
A social media creator tweeted saying, "Congress asked TikTok's CEO if he'd be willing to divest from Chinese ownership. His incredibly fair, savage answer? "American social companies don't have a good track record with data privacy and user security. I mean, look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica."
Congress asked TikTok's CEO if he'd be willing to divest from Chinese ownership.
— Jack Appleby (@jappleby) March 23, 2023
His incredibly fair, savage answer?
"American social companies don't have a good track record with data privacy and user security. I mean, look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica." pic.twitter.com/cVP9dph5wL
5 takeaways from the hearing
1. The US state of Washington is considering banning TikTok for government business, potentially extending a Republican-led campaign against the Chinese-owned app.
2. TikTok is transparent about its data collection practices but still collects a lot of data.
3. TikTok's algorithms promote suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders, leading to a lack of adequate content moderation.
4. CFIUS and TikTok are negotiating a deal to address US security concerns and allow TikTok to operate in the US.
5. TikTok CEO Shou Chew's presentation was largely ignored by Congress, led by Rep Kat Cammack's condemnation of content control and connections to China.
