TikTok CEO testifies on Capitol Hill as app faces possible ban

Rep. Kat Cammack showed a TikTok video of an animated gun shooting bullets that appeared to target Rep. McMorris Rodgers, the committee chair.

"Your own community guidelines state that you have a firm stance against enabling violence on or off TikTok," Cammack said when she revealed the video. "This video has been up for 41 days."

The video was taken down during the hearing, Chew confirmed when the hearing resumed after a short break.

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TikTok pulls video apparently threatening chair of House Energy and Commerce Committee

The video was brought to the attention to the CEO during the hearing and was pulled down after allegedly being on the social media site for 41 days.

Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., directed heated questions at Chew over an internal memo at TikTok that called on employees to "downplay the parent company ByteDance, downplay the China association, downplay AI."

Cammack displayed an excerpt of the memo, first reported by Gizmodo, on a placard behind her.

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TikTok CEO questioned over internal memo asking employees to 'downplay' China ties

The internal memo, referenced by Florida Rep. Kat Cammack, allegedly called on employees to "downplay the parent company ByteDance, downplay the China association, downplay AI."

"You've said repeatedly that there is no threat, that this is a platform for entertainment and for fun," Cammack said, pointing her finger at Chew. "Why, if you had nothing to hide, would you need to downplay the association with ByteDance and China?"

Chew replied: "Congresswoman, I have not seen that memo."

"You cannot answer that question, Mr. Chew," Cammack said.

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., asked a series of questions about the spread of misinformation on TikTok, citing a viral post in 2021 that falsely instructed viewers on how to make antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine from grapefruit and lemon peel.

“What is TikTok doing to try to strengthen its review to keep this information from coming across to people?” DeGette asked.

Chew said misinformation violates TikTok’s rules but acknowledged that the app fails to remove every false post. “I don’t think we can sit here and say we’re perfect,” he said.

“We invest a significant amount in our content moderation work,” Chew said.

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TikTok CEO confronted by lawmakers on tackling misinformation on the app

Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado said TikTok's plan to tackle misinformation was "not enough" for her.

DeGette later said: “I’m going to stop you right now. I asked you specifically how you were trying to increase your review of this, and you gave me only generalized statements that you’re investing, that you’re concerned, that you’re doing more.”

“That’s not enough for me,” she added. “That’s not enough for the parents of America.”

Facing questions about harmful acts allegedly prompted by TikTok posts, Chew said he supports continued liability protection for social media platforms as a means of protecting free speech.

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Chew says US should 'preserve' section 230

The TikTok CEO said that section 230 has been "very important for freedom of expression on the internet."

Liability protection, stipulated in Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, safeguards social media platforms and other sites from legal responsibility that could result from content posted by users.

“[Section] 230 has been very important for freedom of expression on the internet,” Chew said. “It’s one of the commitments we’ve made to this committee and our users.”

“I do think it’s important to preserve that,” he added.