TikTok CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has undergone a grueling five-hour hearing with US Congress members over content and security concerns. Chew was bombarded with tough questions from both Republican and Democrat lawmakers regarding the social media platform’s links to China, its content policies, youth safety, and data security. While TikTok has pledged to never share US user data with the Chinese government, the platform could face a nationwide ban in the US on national security grounds. The hearing also revealed that ByteDance engineers in China currently have access to US data, raising concerns that the Chinese government could also potentially access this data.
China Links
During the hearing, committee members focused heavily on TikTok’s links to China, particularly its ownership by Beijing-based ByteDance, which they alleged has ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Chew clarified that TikTok was headquartered in Singapore and Los Angeles but failed to distance TikTok from ByteDance. Additionally, Chew was asked if TikTok had “spied on American citizens,” to which he responded that “spying is not the right way to describe it.”
Project Texas
Lawmakers were also critical of TikTok’s data security efforts, known as “Project Texas,” which has a budget of over $1.5 billion. Although TikTok has pledged to relocate all US user data to American servers and allow Oracle to scrutinize its source code and act as a third-party monitor, US lawmakers have criticized the project for not offering sufficient protection against Chinese laws that require companies to make user data accessible to Chinese intelligence services.
Mental Health
Another focus during the hearing was the safety of TikTok’s young users, as the platform is widely used by this demographic. Lawmakers cited reports of drug-related and eating disorder content on the app, which Chew said violated TikTok policy and was removed when identified.
Cambridge Analytica
Chew pushed back during the hearing, citing the poor track record of American companies with user data, pointing out Facebook’s issues with Cambridge Analytica.
China to Oppose Sale
China has announced that it would “firmly oppose” any forced sale of TikTok. The app is undergoing a national security review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), but the review has stalled despite Project Texas. A last resort would be a divestiture (sale or IPO), but China’s commerce ministry said on Thursday that a forced sale of TikTok would “seriously damage” global investors’ confidence in the United States.
The five-hour grilling of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on Capitol Hill demonstrated the severity of concerns among US lawmakers about national security, data privacy, and content safety on the popular social media platform. While Shou Zi Chew reiterated that TikTok would never share US user data with the Chinese government and ByteDance is not owned or controlled by any government or state entity, his testimony failed to convince some lawmakers.
The criticism of TikTok’s Chinese ownership and links to the Chinese Communist Party, as well as the potential for data breaches by ByteDance engineers in China, remain a significant concern. Additionally, the platform’s approach to youth safety and mental health has come under scrutiny, as well as its content moderation policies.
On the positive side, TikTok has made efforts to address these concerns, such as investing in data security through Project Texas and relocating all US user data to American servers. However, US lawmakers have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of these measures, and some have even called for a nationwide ban of TikTok in the United States.
The fate of TikTok in the United States remains uncertain, as the ongoing national security review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has stalled. It is clear that TikTok will have to take significant steps to alleviate lawmakers’ concerns and ensure the safety and privacy of its users. However, as China has expressed opposition to any forced sale of TikTok, it remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved.
