Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, will be the sole witness at an upcoming hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 23rd. The hearing will focus on privacy and data security practices of the popular video-sharing app, its impact on young users, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. The committee aims to hold big tech accountable and get complete answers from the company, according to CNN.
TikTok’s high-profile hearing comes amid rising political risk as negotiations with the US government on national security continue. US officials have raised concerns about China potentially using its laws to access US user data for intelligence or disinformation purposes. These concerns have led the US government to ban TikTok from official devices and over half of US states have taken similar measures.
TikTok welcomes the opportunity to address these concerns and set the record straight about its comprehensive plans. A spokesperson for the company stated, “We hope that by sharing details of our comprehensive plans with the full Committee, Congress can take a more deliberative approach to the issues at hand.”
Chew, who took over as CEO in April 2021, has largely stayed out of the public eye. However, members of Congress previously grilled TikTok’s COO Vanessa Pappas during a Senate hearing last year, highlighting the public scrutiny the company is facing.
The hearing will provide a platform for TikTok to address these concerns and provide answers to the American public. With over 1 billion active users worldwide, TikTok has become a prominent player in the tech industry, and its privacy and security practices have come under intense scrutiny. The upcoming hearing will provide an opportunity for the company to show its commitment to protecting user data and maintaining transparency in its operations.
Overall, the hearing will be a significant event for the tech industry and will set the tone for future discussions on privacy, data security, and big tech accountability. It will also be a test for TikTok as it faces scrutiny from the US government and works to maintain its position as a trusted and secure platform for its users.
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