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TikTok CEO testimony on Capitol Hill updates: App faces possible ban

MSN - A pivotal standoff involving the U. S. On Thursday, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify before a committee of House lawmakers about the potential ban on the social media app. Over 150 million U.S. users use the China-based app. S. Government officials have been paying more attention to the app's monthly users due to concerns that user data might end up in the hands of the Chinese government and that China might use the app as a weapon to spread misinformation. That TikTok shared U is not supported by any evidence. S. policymakers worry that the Chinese government may compel the company to share user data with the Chinese government. The relationship between TikTok and the Chinese government and alleged content moderation on its behalf came up repeatedly in an early exchange with Chew. Rep. Chew was questioned by McMorris Rodgers regarding "heating content," the practice of social media platforms promoting or controlling the content that appears on their platforms. In his opening remarks, Chew addressed lawmakers' worries about data security and content manipulation while highlighting the company's efforts to safeguard user data. Continuing work, Project Texas, according to Chew, keeps all data on U. S. through a collaboration with Austin-based cloud computing company Oracle, users within the nation.

TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew is pictured on the day he will testify before a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 23, 2023.

“In your current or previous positions in Chinese companies, have employees engaged in heating content for users outside of China?” McMorris Rodgers asked. “Our heating process is approved by our local teams in various countries,” Chew responded, noting that potentially controversial content, such as posts about the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre, is currently present on the app. McMorris Rodgers appeared to doubt the veracity of the remark, saying, “I will remind you that making false or misleading statements to Congress is a federal crime.” “Trust is about actions we take,” Chew said. “We will firewall protect the U.S. data from unwanted foreign access.” “TikTok will remain a place for free expression and will not be manipulated by any government,” he added.

Opening remarks at the House hearing echoed bipartisan criticism of TikTok that has grown on Capitol Hill in recent weeks. “TikTok surveils us all,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-WA, chair of the committee.After McMorris Rodgers finished her comments, Rep. Frank Pallone, D-NJ, the senior Democratic member, said: “I agree with much of what you said.” “While TikTok videos provide a new fun way for people to express their creativity and enjoy the videos of others, the platform also threatens the health, privacy and security of the American people,” Pallone added. “I'm not convinced that the benefits outweigh the threats it poses to Americans in its current form.”

Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-NY, and Rep. Mark Pocan, D-WI, - "Instead of banning TikTok we need comprehensive legislation to ensure social media users' data is safe and secure,” Bowman said on Twitter on Wednesday. “Banning TikTok won't solve that problem and I was proud to stand with some of the most incredible creators today,” he added.

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