US politicians have grilled the CEO of TikTok over data security and harmful content, responding sceptically during a tense committee hearing to his assurances that the hugely popular video-sharing app prioritises user safety and should not be banned.
In an effort to reign in the social platform's power, politicians pressed the TikTok CEO on a host of topics
Shou Zi Chew's rare public appearance came at a crucial time for the company, which has 150 million American users but is under increasing pressure from US officials. "Mr Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security," committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, said in her opening statement.
Mr Chew noted the failure of US social media companies to address the same concerns for which TikTok was being criticised. "You expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security, privacy and security of 150 million Americans where you can't even protect the people in this room," Ms Cammack said.
"American social companies don't have a good track record with data privacy and user security," he said. "Look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, just one example."Committee members also showed a host of TikTok videos that encouraged users to harm themselves and commit suicide.
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