TikTok CEO testifies on Capitol Hill as app faces possible ban

Lawmakers press TikTok CEO over data security, misinformation and other issues.

Last Updated: March 26, 2023, 4:50 PM EDT

A high-stakes standoff between the U.S. government and social media app TikTok over a potential ban had its reckoning on Thursday when TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before a committee of House lawmakers.

The China-based app, which counts more than 150 million U.S. users each month, has faced growing scrutiny from government officials over fears that user data could fall into the possession of the Chinese government and the app could be weaponized by China to spread misinformation.

There is no evidence that TikTok has shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government, but policymakers fear that the Chinese government could compel the company to do so.

Mar 23, 2023, 3:38 PM EDT

Texas representative calls on TikTok to remove his state from name of data privacy project

Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, implored Chew to remove “Texas” from the company’s data privacy project.

Chew previously touted Project Texas, an ongoing effort that he says keeps all data on U.S. users within the country through a partnership with Oracle.

"Please rename your project. Texas is not the appropriate name,” Pfluger said. “We stand for freedom and transparency and we don’t want your project.”

Mar 23, 2023, 3:25 PM EDT

Who is TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew?

Despite the booming popularity of TikTok, Chew is relatively unknown compared to rival executives like Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg or Twitter CEO Elon Musk.

Chew, 40, interned at Facebook and graduated from University College of London as well as Harvard Business School on his way to becoming TikTok CEO in 2021.

"I am responsible for all the strategic decisions at TikTok," Chew told The New York Times in November.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on "TikTok on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2023, in Washington, DC.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

He currently lives with his wife and two children in Singapore, where he was born and raised.

Mar 23, 2023, 3:24 PM EDT

TikTok CEO on national security fears: ‘I have not seen any evidence.'

Raising national security concerns, Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., listed a slew of Western countries as well as the FBI that have warned about the Chinese government accessing and exploiting user data.

"How can all of these countries and our own FBI director be wrong?" Lesko asked.

Rep. Debbie Lasko of Arizona listed various nations that have warned about the Chinese government accessing and exploiting TikTok user data.
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TikTok CEO on national security fears: 'I have not seen any evidence'

Rep. Debbie Lasko of Arizona listed various nations that have warned about the Chinese government accessing and exploiting TikTok user data.
ABCNews.com

"I think a lot of risks that are pointed out are hypothetical and theoretical risks," Chew responded. "I have not seen any evidence."

"I'm eagerly awaiting discussions where we talk about evidence," he added. "And we then can address the concerns that are being raised."

TikTok has not shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government, nor would it comply if asked to do so, Chew previously said.

Mar 23, 2023, 1:52 PM EDT

House member on dangerous TikTok challenge videos: ‘Why is it that you can’t control this?’

Rep. Earl Carter, R-Ga., asked Chew about dangerous TikTok challenge videos such as the “blackout challenge,” which critics say encourages users to strangle themselves.

TikTok is facing several lawsuits from parents who say their children died attempting the blackout challenge. The company has blocked searches for #blackoutchallenge, The Washington Post reported.

“Why is it that TikTok consistently fails to identify and moderate these kinds of harmful videos?” Carter asked. “Why is it that you can’t control this?”

Chew replied, “This is a real industry challenge and we’re working very hard.”

“We’re not talking about the industry,” Carter replied back. “We’re talking about TikTok.”

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