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.
Latest headlines:
- Texas representative calls on TikTok to remove his state from name of data privacy project
- Who is TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew?
- During hearing, TikTok takes down video threatening committee chair
- Heated questions over internal memo calling on TikTok employees to ‘downplay’ China ties
- Chew grilled over China’s reported opposition to sale of TikTok
- House member on TikTok’s misinformation plan: ‘That’s not enough for me’
- Chew faces repeated questions over TikTok’s China ties
- TikTok CEO addresses lawmaker concerns over data safety and manipulation