A Congressional hearing about TikTok took place Thursday, following a series of concerns over the popular social media platform's data privacy and security practices.
Held by the Senate Judiciary Committee, the five hour-long hearing saw testimony from TikTok CEO Shou Chew, as well as representatives from other tech companies and experts in the field of online security.
The hearing came amidst growing concerns over the potential threat posed by foreign-owned tech companies, particularly those with ties to China. TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has been accused of collecting and sharing user data with the Chinese government, a charge the company has denied.
TikTok has been seeking approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States , or CFIUS, to continue operating in the U.S. under its ownership. The plan, named Project Texas, outlines how the social media company will prevent the Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, from accessing U.S. user data or manipulating content recommendations. It also includes oversight measures by CFIUS-approved auditors and third-party monitors.
However, the plan has yet to receive approval, and the Biden administration has expressed a desire for TikTok’s Chinese ownership to either sell the app or face a possible ban. China has stated it would firmly oppose any forced sale of the app.
The White House has supported a bipartisan Senate bill, called the American Data Privacy Protection Act, that would allocate more power to the administration to deal with platforms such as TikTok, including a potential ban.
During the hearing, lawmakers questioned Chew about TikTok’s policies and impacts on mental and physical health, age restrictions, illicit and inappropriate content, human rights violations and national security.
“TikTok surveils us all and the Chinese Community Party is able to use this as a tool to manipulate America as a whole,” Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers told Chew in her opening remarks. “Your platform should be banned. I expect today, you will say anything to avoid this outcome.”
In an exchange with California Democratic Representative Anna Eshoo, Chew discussed TikTok’s ongoing efforts to protect U.S. user data.
“I have seen no evidence that the Chinese government has access to that data,” Chew said. “They have never asked us, we have not provided it.”
