During a congressional hearing on child safety online, GOP Sen. Tom Cotton repeatedly questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about his nationality and alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party, to which Chew firmly stated he is Singaporean and not affiliated with the party. The exchange sparked concerns of xenophobia and McCarthyism against Asian-Americans, with experts warning about the potential revival of a controversial program targeting ethnic Chinese individuals. The scrutiny of TikTok comes amid ongoing concerns about user data sharing with the Chinese government.
Sen. Tom Cotton faced backlash for repeatedly questioning TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about his citizenship and ties to the Chinese Communist Party during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on child safety online. Cotton's line of questioning was criticized as racist and Sinophobic, with social media users and political action committees condemning his approach. The CEOs of Meta, X, Discord, and Snap were also pressed on various issues related to social media regulation, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally apologizing to families who say social media contributed to their children's deaths by suicide.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, GOP Senator Tom Cotton repeatedly questioned Singaporean TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about his citizenship and ties to the Chinese Communist Party, despite Chew's insistence that he is Singaporean. The hearing focused on online safety for children and included CEOs from other social media companies. Chew and TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, have faced scrutiny over concerns about Chinese influence and data security, with some criticism veering into anti-Asian rhetoric.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew defended the platform in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, facing questions from lawmakers on user safety, data privacy, and national security. Chew asserted that banning the app would be harmful to millions of American businesses and that ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country. Following the hearing, fan edits and memes dedicated to Chew began to pop up on TikTok. Some lawmakers have called for the platform to be banned in the US over worries that its parent company, ByteDance, could or would share American user data with the Chinese government.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce drew criticism from Wall Street, but the internet reacted differently, applauding and embracing him. Chew has been battling accusations of TikTok's ties to the Chinese communist party and data privacy concerns. The support for Chew and TikTok started gearing up before the hearing began, and Chew's demeanor during the hearing helped fuel the internet's positive reaction.
Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok, testified before a panel of federal lawmakers to address concerns about the social media platform's ties to China and possible security risks. Chew, who took the helm of TikTok about two years ago, has a background in investment banking and venture capital. He assured lawmakers that TikTok is building a firewall to seal off protected U.S. user data from unauthorized foreign access and that American data stored on American soil is overseen by American personnel. National security experts have warned that TikTok could be used to spy on Americans or as a propaganda tool by the Chinese government.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has been participating in daily prep sessions ahead of his first sworn testimony before US lawmakers on Thursday. The hearing will focus on data privacy and security, among other issues. TikTok is hoping to address concerns about its Chinese ownership and its algorithm's potential danger to young people. Chew will argue that TikTok is committed to safety, will firewall US user data, will not be manipulated by any government, and will be transparent. However, the committee's reception to his arguments remains uncertain.
TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, will testify in front of the US Congress for the first time on Thursday, facing questions about TikTok's relationship with China, data privacy, and why ByteDance employees spied on journalists. TikTok is fighting for its future in the US, as politicians from both sides want to see the platform sold or banned due to its Chinese ownership. Chew will argue that user data is safe and that Chinese laws cannot compel ByteDance to share American data. However, he may face curveball questions that could impact the future of the phenomenally popular video-sharing app in the US.
Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, is set to testify before Congress on Thursday to defend the app against claims that it is a Chinese spying and propaganda machine. Chew has worked to counter American suspicions with hard logic, telling members of Congress that his company is unaffiliated with the Chinese government and is committed to building a “sunny corner of the internet” for colorful videos and creative speech. However, tensions with the Chinese government and broader anxieties about social media and American children have made TikTok into a political punching bag.
