“We got here right here hoping to listen to some motion that will alleviate our issues,” mentioned Consultant Lisa Blunt Rochester, a Delaware Democrat. “I’ve not been reassured by something you’ve mentioned to date. I feel fairly frankly your testimony has raised extra questions for me than solutions.”
Chew confronted hostile questioning from members of each events — who typically reduce off his makes an attempt to reply — in his look earlier than the Home Vitality and Commerce Committee. The testimony comes as lawmakers and the Biden administration are exploring the way to pressure TitTok’s Chinese language mum or dad firm, ByteDance Ltd., to promote its shares of the unit or block it within the US.
Chew mentioned TikTok is unbiased of its Beijing-based proprietor, ByteDance Ltd., and the platform’s headquarters are in Singapore and Los Angeles.
“The underside line is that is American knowledge on American soil by an American firm overseen by American personnel,” Chew mentioned. He couldn’t unequivocally say that no ByteDance workers have entry to that knowledge, saying somewhat that he’s “seen no proof” of that occuring.
Ohio Consultant Bob Latta requested Chew “sure or no,” do Chinese language workers together with engineers have entry to US consumer knowledge? Chew’s response – “it is a complicated topic” – drew incredulous chuckles within the room.
Chew answered different sure or no questions with incomplete denials. “That’s not how we see it,” he mentioned when requested whether or not TikTok is a Chinese language firm. “I’ve seen no proof,” he mentioned when requested whether or not ByteDance workers entry US consumer knowledge.
When requested by Consultant Neal Dunn of Florida whether or not China can use TikTok to spy on People, Chew replied, “no.” When confronted with a Forbes article concerning ByteDance workers accessing the information of US journalists, Chew mentioned “I don’t assume that spying is the proper strategy to describe it” — once more drawing murmurs of disbelief from the gang.
Chew was repeatedly reminded that he was below oath, echoing the prevailing sentiment on Capitol Hill this week that any assertion from TikTok or ByteDance is to not be trusted.
The listening to took a darkish flip when Florida Republican Michael Bilirakis performed a compilation of TikTok movies about suicide accompanied by ominous music.
Michelle and Dean Nasca, whose 16-year outdated son died by suicide after utilizing TikTok, have been current and the listening to. The couple is suing ByteDance, alleging that TikTok despatched their son greater than 1,000 movies associated to suicide, hopelessness and self-harm.
Matthew Bergman, an lawyer for the household, mentioned throughout a break that Chew’s testimony “provides fact to the time period obfuscation” and mentioned he was gratified to see bipartisan help for stopping extra of tragedies.
Chew informed the lawmakers that TikTok takes the psychological well being of its customers very critically and refers folks asking about suicide or dying it to the platform’s security web page.
“We aren’t shopping for it,” Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the committee’s chair and a Washington Republican, mentioned of TikTok’s arguments of why the service is protected.
Rodgers mentioned the app’s extensive reputation — utilized by 150 million People — is exactly why it poses such a risk.
The room was overflowing with TikTokers who credit score the app with giving them a voice or rising their small enterprise. However the lawmakers weren’t assuaged, firing rapid-fire inquiries to Chew.
“Congressman, you’re giving me no time to reply the questions, I reject the characterizations,” Chew mentioned after an trade with Consultant Neal Dunn, a Florida Republican.
Chew mentioned the TikTok algorithm drives an ideal expertise for a lot of customers, citing content material about science and books.
“Sure, there are some dangerous actors who are available and publish violative content material, and it’s our job to take away that,” Chew mentioned. “However the overwhelming expertise is a constructive one for our neighborhood.”
Chew got here ready for all of the accusations he would hear from lawmakers. In his opening assertion he tried to guarantee the committee that TikTok operates independently from ByteDance.
“We imagine we’re the one firm — the one firm — that applies this degree of transparency,” Chew mentioned emphatically concerning the privateness measures the corporate has put in place.
Later, requested if TikTok is a Chinese language firm, he replied “that’s not how we see it” noting that the platform has headquarters in Singapore and Los Angeles.
The centerpiece of Chew’s providing to quell issues about Chinese language affect — a $1.5 billion funding in US-based knowledge safety measures — has already been rejected by US authorities officers, who’re demanding that ByteDance promote its shares or face a US ban, in keeping with folks aware of the nationwide safety overview of the app.
Chew, in his ready remarks, referred to as these reviews “hypothesis” and mentioned “conversations with the federal government are ongoing,” and TikTok’s effort to isolate and shield US consumer knowledge “has continued unabated.”
Moody’s launched an announcement throughout the listening to about how a ban would impression the share value of different US social media corporations. Even the famously secretive Committee on Overseas Funding within the US — which hasn’t even confirmed that it’s reviewing TikTok — launched an announcement with a basic warning about knowledge safety.
“As a basic matter, Cfius doesn’t touch upon transactions,” the assertion learn. “Broadly talking, some transactions can current knowledge safety dangers — together with offering a international individual or authorities with entry to troves of People’ delicate private knowledge in addition to entry to mental property, supply code, or different probably delicate info.”
Chew in contrast the steps TikTok is taking — to guard each knowledge safety and the security of younger customers — to the practices of different massive tech corporations. He described the measures TikTok takes to confirm the age of its customers and implement restrictions for youngsters and youths as industry-leading.
“It’s not a good combat, the algorithms are on one aspect of the display screen and human brains are on the opposite aspect of the display screen,” Maryland Democrat John Sarbanes mentioned, emphasizing that younger brains are nonetheless not absolutely developed and aren’t any match for TikTok’s know-how.
New Jersey Consultant Frank Pallone, the committee’s rating Democrat, mentioned whereas he helps complete data-privacy laws, such because the invoice he sponsored with McMorris Rodgers final 12 months, that doesn’t let TikTok off the hook. He mentioned he has “extensive issues” not nearly TikTok, however about all social media platforms.
Florida’s Darren Soto, a Democrat, mentioned “the genie is de facto out of the bottle” with so many People already on TikTok. He prolonged his concern to different US social media corporations and mentioned it’s as much as this committee to set stricter guidelines for the entire {industry}.
“Now we have to go complete laws that acquired out of this committee however eluded us” final 12 months, Soto mentioned.
Indiana Republican Greg Pence mentioned “That is the thirty second listening to we’ve held about privateness and Massive Tech,” pence mentioned, pounding the desk. Pointing his finger at Chew and elevating his voice, he requested how a lot revenue TikTok makes from the information collected from his kids, grandchildren and neighbors.
“I respect and perceive your opinion,” Chew mentioned quietly, insisting that most individuals on TikTok have a constructive expertise.
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