In an awkward setting earlier today on the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing with TikTok, its CEO, Shou Chew, was asked about his affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). There are speculations that TikTok is still under China's hand, particularly under the CCP, which monitors Americans and their data through the app, focusing on security issues on TikTok.
The issue with ByteDance's handling of TikTok before was solved by handing over its operating rights to Oracle, but despite this, security issues with data access are still found.
TikTok's Shou Chew Clarifies his Home Country After Latest Senate Hearing
The recent hearing last Wednesday, Jan. 31, had various social media platforms testify in the Senate for child online safety matters, with TikTok's Shou Chew being the center of attention after a line of questioning against him. Things took a turn when Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas asked him about his affiliations or membership to the Chinese Communist Party.
Here, Chew answered directly and simply, saying, "Senator, I'm Singaporean. No," at first, having a smirk on his face, said Gizmodo.
However, Sen. Cotton readdressed the question more seriously, asking again if he was "associated or affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party," to which Chew replied, "No, Senator. Again, I'm Singaporean."
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Senate Grilling vs. TikTok: Chew is Not Part of CCP
A clip of the Senate grilling shared online highlighted the interaction between both Chew and Sen. Cotton, with the politician joined by committee members asking about the Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing that were uploaded on the platform.
Chew reiterated that he has no affiliations with the CCP, and it is unknown why the hearing took a turn, especially as its focus is on social media's harm to children's health.
TikTok and its Data Access in the US
The long-running hearing on TikTok with the US Congress centered on the massive data access of the app in the United States and its users, with a looming ban over TikTok in the home country. Those who appeared at the hearing were TikTok's CEO for its US operations (and other countries), Shou Chew, followed by other platform executives.
Initially, TikTok's executives commented on the hearings that took place with members of Congress, with its COO Vanessa Pappas saying that there was a "xenophobic" atmosphere during the hearing. Nevertheless, amidst all of the claims filed against TikTok, its CEO remained calm and composed, answering all the questions and providing a solution to keep the app in the US.
However, the hearings still need to be done for TikTok, now with a different case heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee to take over and review the app's operations, for children's online safety. The latest happening in court had Chew face another awkward interaction with Senators, particularly with Sen. Cotton, who asked multiple times if he was affiliated with the CCP despite answering the question firsthand.
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