TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testimony updates: Company hopes to stave off possible ban
Lawmakers press TikTok CEO over data security, misinformation and other issues.
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.
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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.”
During hearing, TikTok takes down video threatening committee chair
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.
Heated questions over internal memo calling on TikTok employees to ‘downplay’ China ties
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.
"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.
House member on TikTok’s misinformation plan: ‘That’s not enough for me’
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.
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.”