TikTok's CEO is defiant as U.S. lawmakers doubt assurances on safety
BNN Bloomberg
TikTok Chief Executive Shou Chew’s appearance in Congress on Thursday did little to calm the bipartisan fury directed at the viral video-sharing service. If anything, his more than four hours of testimony gave critics more fuel to insist the app be banned in the U.S.
“We came here hoping to hear some action that would alleviate our concerns,” said Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester, a Delaware Democrat. “I’ve not been reassured by anything you’ve said so far. I think quite frankly your testimony has raised more questions for me than answers.”
Chew faced hostile questioning from members of both parties — who often cut off his attempts to answer — in his appearance before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The testimony comes as lawmakers and the Biden administration are exploring how to force TitTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance Ltd., to sell its shares of the unit or block it in the US.
Chew said TikTok is independent of its Beijing-based owner, ByteDance Ltd., and the platform’s headquarters are in Singapore and Los Angeles.
