TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before Congress on Thursday in an explosive and emotional hearing surrounding the controversial social media app. Lawmakers grilled Chew for several hours, interrogating the CEO about his company’s data collection policies, its ties to the Chinese government, and the violent content it often exposes to its young user base. The hearing comes amidst a growing bipartisan push to ban TikTok as tensions between the United States and China escalate.
It was a rare moment of unity in congress as House Energy and Commerce Committee members picked apart the CEO.
“Your platform should be banned.” Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) said at the opening of the hearing, “To the American people watching today, hear this: TikTok is a weapon by the Chinese Communist Party to spy on you, manipulate what you see and exploit for future generations.”
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While TikTok does not operate in China, its ownership by the Beijing-based company ByteDance has left many Americans suspicious of how much influence the Chinese government holds over the app. The revelation last year that TikTok had been using their app to spy on American tech journalists confirmed those suspicions for those Americans.
Calls have since mounted for ByteDance to sell its stake in TikTok or face a ban in the United States. Chew appeared before congress to argue his company’s independence from China, denying allegations that his company has been spying on users.
“I have seen no evidence that the Chinese government has access to that data,” Chew told the committee. “They have never asked us, we have not provided. I have seen no evidence of this happening.”
“I find that actually preposterous,” Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-D) told Chew. “I don’t believe that TikTok — that you have said or done anything to convince us.”
At one point, Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) pressured Chew over whether the Chinese Communist Party had access to American user data. Chew initially tried to evade the question, calling it a “complex” subject, but Lotta persisted.
“Yes or no? It’s not that complex. Yes or no? Do they have access to U.S. data?”
Chew then made a stunning admission that China had access, at least until a certain point.
I just pressed TikTok’s CEO about whether or not the Chinese Communist Party has access to U.S. user data.
He ADMITTED China has access to U.S. data. This should serve as a wake up call and alarm every single American. pic.twitter.com/qmEVEkSrvT
— U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (@boblatta) March 23, 2023
Neal Dunn (R-FL) pointedly asked Chew if TikTok has “spied on American citizens.”
“I don’t think that spying is the right way to describe it,” the CEO replied.
.@DrNealDunnFL2: "Has ByteDance spied on American citizens?"
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew: "I don't think that spying is the right way to describe it." pic.twitter.com/23nvsd7bEG
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 23, 2023
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The TikTok CEO was also grilled over his company’s content policies–specifically why so many young users are often exposed to unsolicited violent content, including videos encouraging suicide. In a particularly emotional testimony, Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) was joined by the parents of Chase Nasca, a 16-year-old who committed suicide after being encouraged by the app’s algorithm.
“Mr. Chew, your company destroyed their lives,” Bilirakis said. The congressman played some of the videos for the committee. Nasca’s parents are reportedly suing TikTok for wrongful death. “Your technology is literally leading to death,” Bilirakis reiterated.
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