TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, on Thursday (March 23), appeared in front of the US congress amid user security concerns and the app’s potential connection with the Chinese government. Over the six hours of testimony, Chew was questioned about TikTok’s ties to Beijing and security and privacy concerns for US citizens, among other issues. The ban on the Chinese app imposed by the Indian government, too, found mention during the hearing.
“The TikTok app, which is owned by the Chinese technology company Bytedance, has long maintained that it does not share data with the Chinese government and it doesn’t pose a risk to its 150 million users in the U.S. nor share their data with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” Chew said.
US lawmaker Debbie Lesko, a member of the Republican party, cited India and other countries that have put various forms of bans on TikTok during the questioning.
“This (TikTok) is a tool which is ultimately under the control of the Chinese government and screams out with national security concerns Mr Chew, how can all of these countries and our FBI director be wrong? ” asked Lesko.
In reply to the question, he dismissed the risk as purely hypothetical and theoretical, stating that he has not come across any supporting evidence.
The Congresswoman emphasised once again while citing India’s ban on TikTok.
This is what TikTok CEO has to say on the ban in India
“India banned TikTok in 2020. On March 21, a Forbes article revealed how data of Indian citizens who used TikTok remained accessible to employees at the company and its Beijing-based parent. A current TikTok employee told Forbes that nearly anyone with basic access to company tools can easily look up the closest contact and other sensitive information about any user,” Lesko said in the congress.
Chew replied that his team is investigating the testimony of the TikTok employee mentioned in the Forbes article, and he firmly disagrees with the interpretations made in the same.
“This is a recent article; I have asked my team to look into it. We have rigorous data access protocols. There is no such thing that anybody can access the tools. So, I disagree with a lot of the conclusions,” said Chew in response.
The government of India imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok and a dozen other Chinese apps over concerns about national security.
“The TikTok app, which is owned by the Chinese technology company Bytedance, has long maintained that it does not share data with the Chinese government and it doesn’t pose a risk to its 150 million users in the U.S. nor share their data with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” Chew said.
US lawmaker Debbie Lesko, a member of the Republican party, cited India and other countries that have put various forms of bans on TikTok during the questioning.
“This (TikTok) is a tool which is ultimately under the control of the Chinese government and screams out with national security concerns Mr Chew, how can all of these countries and our FBI director be wrong? ” asked Lesko.
In reply to the question, he dismissed the risk as purely hypothetical and theoretical, stating that he has not come across any supporting evidence.
The Congresswoman emphasised once again while citing India’s ban on TikTok.
This is what TikTok CEO has to say on the ban in India
“India banned TikTok in 2020. On March 21, a Forbes article revealed how data of Indian citizens who used TikTok remained accessible to employees at the company and its Beijing-based parent. A current TikTok employee told Forbes that nearly anyone with basic access to company tools can easily look up the closest contact and other sensitive information about any user,” Lesko said in the congress.
Chew replied that his team is investigating the testimony of the TikTok employee mentioned in the Forbes article, and he firmly disagrees with the interpretations made in the same.
“This is a recent article; I have asked my team to look into it. We have rigorous data access protocols. There is no such thing that anybody can access the tools. So, I disagree with a lot of the conclusions,” said Chew in response.
The government of India imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok and a dozen other Chinese apps over concerns about national security.
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