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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before Congress as it floats a ban: Live updates

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is testifying before Congress in defense of the popular social media app as momentum grows on Capitol Hill to outright ban the app over national security concerns.

Lawmakers have been growing increasingly concerned over the app's parent company, ByteDance, due to its ties to the Chinese government. Those lawmakers both Republicans and Democrats will grill Chew over the next four hours over the app's handling of private user data and security practices.

Chew is facing an uphill battle, as lawmakers have seemingly become more dug in and hostile to the app. U.S. officials have been sounding the alarms on the app as well, with FBI Director Christopher Wray testifying to Congress in early March that the app "screams out with national security concerns."

Here are the latest updates as Chew tries to convince a skeptical Congress that the app poses no danger to national security.

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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in Washington. The social media company has come under scrutiny for its data collection and privacy practices.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in Washington. The social media company has come under scrutiny for its data collection and privacy practices.

Pallone asks Chew whether TikTok sells data

Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, pressed Chew on whether the company makes revenue by selling user data.

“You say you’re benign, you want to do good things for the public, so let me ask you.” Pallone said. “What about a commitment that says you won’t sell the data that you collect. Would you commit to that? Not selling the data you collect?”

Chew told Pallone that the company does not sell data to “any data broker.”

But Pallone asked again, clarifying that he was asking whether TikTok sold data to “anyone,” possibly alluding to the Chinese government. “I didn’t ask about data brokers. Do you sell it to anyone?” Pallone said.

Chew said he “can get back to”  Pallone and the committee on the details.

Ken Tran

Chew rejects proposal for Chinese owners to sell stakes in TikTok

One potential solution that the White House is pushing for is demanding TikTok’s Chinese owners to sell its stakes in the app. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., asked Chew if the platform would be prepared to divest if the situation arises.

“Would TikTok be prepared to divest from ByteDance and Chinese communist party ties if the Department of Treasury instructed you all to do so?” Soto asked.

Chew disavowed the proposal, arguing that he does not think “ownership is the issue here,” pointing to other social media companies that have improperly managed its data, such as Facebook and its relationship with now-defunct political firm Cambridge Analytica.

Ken Tran

Chew dodges lawmakers’ questions

Chew has been hesitant to provide clear yes or no answers to lawmakers’ questions throughout the hearing.

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., asked Chew if he would oppose legislation that would ban intentionally manipulative design techniques to trick users to provide personal information. She also asked if TikTok users can opt out of targeted ads. Both questions did not receive a clear response from Chew.

“I think quite frankly your testimony has raised more questions for me than answers,” Blunt Rochester said.

- Rachel Looker  

Chew pressed on TikTok's non-English content moderation

Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., asked Chew about how the app could effectively moderate Spanish content that violates the app's community guidelines, such as disinformation and violent content if it could not flag the earlier apparent threat to Rep. Catherine McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., played to the committee.

“So I guess I’m a little concerned if your team doesn’t have the resources and capabilities to flag that, what kind of capability does it have to bring down misinformation, disinformation, for Spanish speakers?”

Chew affirmed the platform's commitment to moderating inappropriate content, but did not provide specifics on the app’s strategy on taking down violating content, saying that it values its “Spanish language user base.”

“So you don’t have an answer then,” replied Barragán.

Ken Tran

Rep. Obernolte concerned over foreign influence in TikTok algorithms

Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., said he is concerned that TikTok’s algorithms remain free from foreign influence.

The California representative questioned Chew on how engineers at Oracle will protect these algorithms.

“This gets very technical... It’s mainly based on interest signals,” Chew responded.

- Rachel Looker 

What is Project Texas?

Throughout the hearing, Chew has told lawmakers that the app is taking steps to protect user data through its security proposal, “Project Texas.”

The plan would store U.S. user data on American soil and would be done in coordination with Texas-based computer technology corporation Oracle. The plan includes an entirely U.S.-based security team that would have access to the data and also allow the U.S. government to regularly monitor the operation.

“Project Texas” would, TikTok hopes, instill confidence in U.S. officials that TikTok operates independently of the Chinese government, but lawmakers in the hearing have appeared largely skeptical of the plan.

Ken Tran

Violent TikTok video quickly taken down after played before committee

A TikTok video that showed an apparent violent threat against the chair of the committee, Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Wash., was taken down during the hearing after Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., played it publicly to the committee. The video, Cammack claims, was up for more than 40 days.

Rep. Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif., asked Chew why the video was only taken down after it was played before the committee, to which Chew responded that it highlights how difficult it is to effectively moderate violent content on the app.

“It goes to show the enormous challenge that we have to make sure that although the vast majority of users come for a good experience, we need to make sure that bad actors don’t post violent content,” Chew said, adding that his company is still investing into moderation practices.

Ken Tran

Rep. Carter: Chinese Communist Party engaged in ‘psychological warfare’ through TikTok

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., said research shows TikTok is the most addictive platform out there and attributed this to its advanced algorithm.

“There are those on this committee including myself who believe that the Chinese Communist Party is engaged in psychological warfare through TikTok to deliberately influence U.S. children,” he said.

Carter pressed Chew if China’s TikTok platform has challenges with content that could be harmful to children. Chew responded with “I’m not sure.”

- Rachel Looker  

A US TikTok ban is gaining support in Congress: Why some say that would hurt free speech.

Rep. Guthrie: TikTok content related to illicit drugs ‘pervasive’

Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., asked Chew about TikTok’s terms of service which do not allow for the depiction, promotion or trade of drug or other controlled substance. But Guthrie said content related to illicit drugs like fentanyl, drug trafficking and other illicit activity is pervasive on the platform , referencing the Benadryl challenge that left one American teenager dead.

“TikTok does not allow illegal drugs,” Chew responded.

He explained that there are 40,000 people as well as machines looking to detect keywords or content with illicit drug trafficking.

- Rachel Looker  

Sarbanes: Children on TikTok can ‘pretty easily bypass’ preventive safety measures

Dean Nasca and Michelle Nasca, who filled a lawsuit against Tik Tok and Bytedance Inc. for the death of their son Chase Nasca, 16, stand as TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in Washington.
Dean Nasca and Michelle Nasca, who filled a lawsuit against Tik Tok and Bytedance Inc. for the death of their son Chase Nasca, 16, stand as TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in Washington.

While the focus of the hearing is on TikTok’s handling of sensitive user data and its ties to China, some lawmakers have also raised concern about the app's risks for children.

Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., noted the app’s addictive dangers for children, saying “addictive impulses are being sort of perfected by the technology” and asked whether the app is taking measures to protect children.

Chew said that the app blocks certain features for users under certain ages, such as preventing users under the age of 16 from going viral on the app and also preventing users under 18 from live streaming on the app.

But Sarbanes pointed out that children can “pretty easily bypass” those preventive measures

Ken Tran

More: TikTok says Biden administration is threatening US ban if Chinese owners don't sell stakes

TikTok moves toward storing all data on U.S. soil

Chew said TikTok’s headquarters are located in Los Angeles and Singapore. He said the platform is not available in mainland China.

The CEO referenced Project Texas, an initiative launched by the company to ensure TikTok data is stored on American soil. The initiative is overseen by Oracle, a computer technology corporation in Texas.

Chew said data is stored in Oracle servers. Only vetted personnel operating on a newly formed team company called TikTok U.S. Data Security can control access to the data, he said.

- Rachel Looker

TikTok legacy data to be deleted

Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., questions TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the platform's consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on children, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., questions TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the platform's consumer privacy and data security practices and impact on children, Thursday, March 23, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Chew said there is legacy U.S. TikTok data in servers in Virginia and Singapore.

“We are deleting those and we expect that to be complete this year,” he said.

After this data is deleted, Chew said all protected U.S. data will be under the protection of U.S. law.

“This eliminates the concern that some of you have shared with me that TikTok user data can be subject to Chinese law,” he said.

- Rachel Looker  

Tick-tock, TikTok: As Biden sets deadline for ban of social media app, here's what we know

McMorris Rodgers: ‘Your platform should be banned’

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, kicked off the hearing with an opening statement that signaled there is little that can change her mind on the app.

“TikTok has repeatedly chosen a path for more control, more surveillance and more manipulation,” said McMorris Rodgers. “Your platform should be banned.”

Ken Tran

CEO: TikTok is not unique tech company

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew listens as he testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on "TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms," on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2023, in Washington, DC.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew listens as he testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on "TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms," on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2023, in Washington, DC.

The potential security and privacy concerns raised about TIkTok are not unique to the platform, Chew said, adding that the same issues apply to other companies.

“We believe what is needed are clear and transparent rules that apply broadly to all tech companies,” he said.

- Rachel Looker  

TikTok CEO Chew promises transparency and protection

Chew made the following four commitments to lawmakers:

  • Keep safety for teenagers a top priority

  • Firewall protect U.S. data from unwanted foreign access

  • TikTok will remain a place for free expression and will not be manipulated by any government

  • TikTok will be transparent and will give access to third party independent monitors to remain accountable to their commitments

- Rachel Looker

Chew defends TikTok through domestic security plan: ‘Project Texas’

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew leaves as the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on "TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms," calls for a recess on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew leaves as the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on "TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms," calls for a recess on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

As lawmakers continue to grill Chew over the app’s handling of private user data and whether the Chinese government could access it, the TikTok CEO has defended the app through the company's proposed data security plan, “Project Texas.”

The plan, Chew says, would store data on “American soil” and quell national security concerns by having a U.S. based security team control access to the data and also have the U.S. government monitor the data.

But the plan doesn’t appear to be any convincing to lawmakers.

“I still believe that the Beijing Communist government will still control and have the ability to influence what you do,” said Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “This idea, this ‘Project Texas’ is simply not acceptable.’”

Ken Tran

Chew: TikTok ‘a place where teenagers come to learn’

As TikTok has grown, Chew said they the company has tried to learn lessons from other social media companies when it comes to teenagers.

“We spend a lot of time adopting measures to protect teenagers,” he said. “Many of these measures are firsts for the social media industry -- we forbid direct messaging for people under 16 and we have a 60-minute watch time by default for those under 18.”

Chew said TikTok wants to be a place “where teenagers come to learn.”

- Rachel Looker  

TikTok announces 60-minute daily screen time limit for users under 18: What to know

Chew: ‘Misconceptions’ about Chinese company ByteDance

Chew said there are misconceptions about the Chinese company ByteDance, which owns TikTok, explaining that the company is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government and is a private company.

According to Chew, ByteDance has five board members, three of which are American. He said TikTok has been addressing national security concerns with “real action.”

“That’s what we’ve been doing for the last two years-- building what amounts to a firewall that seals out protected U.S. user data from unauthorized foreign access,” he said.

- Rachel Looker

TikTok CEO in for 'tough fight' in Congress

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew arrives to testify to a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 23, 2023.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew arrives to testify to a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 23, 2023.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is testifying before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Thursday morning, his first appearance before a Congressional committee. Chew is expected to make the case to the American people that selling TikTok to a U.S. company would not address national security concerns.

The U.S. worries that TikTok could be pressured into handing over U.S. user data to the Chinese government or that it could be used as a propaganda machine to manipulate Americans. TikTok says it protects U.S. users by storing their personal data outside China and says it does not share information with Beijing.

“I’ll be testifying before Congress this week to share all that we’re doing to protect Americans using the app,” Chew said.

- Jessica Guynn  

Is TikTok getting banned? CEO in for 'tough fight' defending Chinese ownership on Capitol Hill

U.S. calls for TikTok owners to sell stakes in company

The issue came to a head last week when the Biden administration demanded that TikTok's Chinese owners sell their stakes or face a possible ban.  

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., or CFIUS, a federal task force that considers national security risks in cross-border business investments, made the demand, according to TikTok.

“Some politicians have started talking about banning TikTok. Now, this could take TikTok away from all 150 million of you,” Chew said in a video Tuesday before the hearing.

- Jessica Guynn  

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in Washington. The social media company has come under scrutiny for its data collection and privacy practices.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, March 23, 2023 in Washington. The social media company has come under scrutiny for its data collection and privacy practices.

What would happen if the US banned TikTok? 

If the United States bans TikTok, it may remove it from the Apple and Google app stores. That would prevent users from getting updates and new users from signing up.

Americans could still install TikTok on their phones by “sideloading” it or they could access TikTok via browsers, according to Bruce Schneier, lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School and author of "A Hacker's Mind."

The U.S. also might ban U.S. companies from doing business with TikTok, which would cut it off from the infrastructure needed to run the app. That would also hit TikTok’s advertising business.

- Jessica Guynn  

More: TikTok says Biden administration is threatening US ban if Chinese owners don't sell stakes

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TikTok CEO testifies before House Energy and Commerce on Project Texas