TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is confirmed to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 23. He will be the only witness, addressing TikTok’s privacy practices, data security, its influence on young users, and its ties to the Chinese Communist Party, as per the committee’s announcement.
“We have expressed our concerns directly to TikTok,” stated Washington Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the committee, in a statement. “Now, it is imperative that we hold Big Tech accountable by summoning TikTok before the committee to provide thorough and truthful answers to the public.”
Brooke Oberwetter, a spokesperson for TikTok, stated, “We welcome the opportunity to clarify matters regarding TikTok, ByteDance, and our commitments to addressing U.S. national security concerns before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. By presenting our comprehensive plans to the full Committee, we aim to foster a more thoughtful approach by Congress to the issues at hand.”
The upcoming high-profile hearing highlights the increasing political risks for TikTok as negotiations with the US government over national security agreements continue. Concerns have been raised by US officials that China could potentially use its laws to compel TikTok or its parent company, ByteDance, to provide US user data for intelligence or misinformation purposes. Consequently, the US government has banned TikTok from official devices, and according to a CNN analysis, more than half of US states have taken similar actions.
Since assuming the role of TikTok CEO in April 2021, Shou Zi Chew has kept a low profile while the app he oversees remains under intense scrutiny. Previously, members of Congress questioned TikTok COO Vanessa Pappas, who has been seen as the company’s prominent figure in the United States, during a Senate hearing last year.
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