Today, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew had to testify before the U.S. Congress and faced sharp questions.
A disaster for TikTok's future; Image: The Wall Street Journal
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced sharp questions today in front of the U.S. Congress. Accusations are that TikTok is a "tool" for the Chinese Communist Party and that the platform harms children's mental health.
Lawmakers said TikTok could protect children. Instead, it harms children and young people for its own profit. The platform, they said, only strives to increase addiction.
Chew's response to most of the questions was that they were "complex." There was no mention of changing the privacy guidelines on TikTok's part.
Republicans and Democrats say TikTok shares users' data with the ruling Communist Party. Chew drew attention to a $1.5 billion investment that foresees data centers in the U.S., on Oracle's servers to be exact, and created 1,500 jobs.
Parents, in particular, are not happy with TikTok, they said. Democrats say AI is not enough for the platform's media management.
Republicans also drew attention to the platform's privacy policies. They say TikTok collects every single data point imaginable, which does not meet American standards of freedom, human rights and innovation.
Frank Pallone, Democrat, said TikTok will continue to collect data at the same level and sell it.
The CEO was also asked what he thought about the change in ownership to American companies. He said it's "not about ownership." Joe Biden's administration sees only two options for the future of TikTok: A change of ownership or a ban in the country.
