TikTok CEO to Face US Congress to Testify About User Privacy and Safety

TikTok CEO Shou Zi▁hukum is ready to testify in court for the practice of privacy and data security of the app. (photo; dock. Shou Zi▁hukum)

JAKARTA - TikTok has recently faced a battle of trust with the United States (US) because it has been banned on many government devices. Now it is reported that TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is ready to testify at trial for the application's privacy and data security practices.

Chew will testify at a hearing scheduled for March 23. In front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Chew will be the only witness in court and is expected to explain TikTok's privacy and data security practices.

"Americans deserve to know how these actions affect the privacy and security of their data, and what actions TikTok is taking to keep our children safe from harm online and offline," committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers said in a statement.

Apart from that, Chew will also reveal how impact TikTok has on young users, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party.

TikTok COO Vanessa Pappas testified before a congressional committee in September last year, but this upcoming hearing will be the first time a CEO has been taken to Capitol Hill for questioning.

"We have made clear our concerns with TikTok. Now is the time to continue the committee's efforts to hold Big Tech accountable by bringing TikTok before the committee to provide the community with a complete and honest answer," said Rodgers.

Citing The Verge, Tuesday, January 31, the news that Chew would testify at trial next month was first reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)

"We welcome the opportunity to set the record straight about TikTok, ByteDance, and the commitments we've made to address concerns about US national security before the House Energy and Commerce Committee," TikTok spokeswoman Brooke Oberwetter said in a statement.

"We hope that by sharing the details of our comprehensive plan with the full Committee, Congress can take a more deliberative approach to the problem at hand," he added.

TikTok has been stuck in negotiations for years with the Committee on Foreign Investment to keep its app running in the US. But last December, the WSJ reported talks between the app and government officials had stalled, a deal may be delayed.

The app, owned by China-based ByteDance, has come under increasing scrutiny after reports emerged of a possible security breach. Last month, US President Joe Biden signed into law banning TikTok on official government devices, and more than half of US states have taken similar action.

Some lawmakers also support legislation to ban the app completely from the country, but Congress has yet to reach an agreement on any ban that would affect consumers.

Naturally, TikTok denied the ban in a statement, arguing it was a political gesture that would do nothing to advance national security interests.

Chew, who took over as CEO of TikTok in April 2021, often hides behind the scenes when his app is in the spotlight.