In a wildly dramatic and painful-to-watch session, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified earlier than Congress in a listening to that may decide the way forward for the social media app.

Simply as US consumer adoption hit 150 million, the CEO confronted robust questions from out-of-touch congresspeople about security, privateness, promoting information, and safety issues. Right here’s what occurred:

“Mr. Chew, you’re right here as a result of the American folks want the reality concerning the menace TikTok poses to our nationwide and private safety,” Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, stated in her opening assertion. “TikTok has repeatedly chosen a path for extra management, extra surveillance and extra manipulation.”

Privateness and safety. Let’s bear in mind there isn’t any proof that TikTok has shared U.S. consumer information with the Chinese language authorities, however policymakers concern that the Chinese language authorities might compel the corporate to take action. Chew says legacy U.S. information in Virginia and Singapore servers are being deleted. “We count on that to be full this yr. When that’s completed, all protected U.S. information can be underneath the safety of U.S. regulation.”

Chew says the corporate has created “what quantities to a firewall that seals off protected U.S. consumer information from unauthorized international entry.” “American information saved on American soil by an American firm overseen by American personnel.”

Chew made 4 commitments to U.S. lawmakers:

1. Prioritizing security for younger customers
2. Firewall safety for U.S. consumer information
3. The app will stay a spot without spending a dime expression & ‘is not going to be manipulated by any authorities’
4. Transparency

Surveillance issues. When requested about surveillance, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)”Are you able to say with 100% % certainty that neither ByteDance nor TikTok workers can goal…Individuals with…surveillance methods?” Chew stated, “I disagree with the characterization of surveillance.”

Whereas Chew doesn’t deny workers at TikTok’s mum or dad firm in China have entry to Individuals’ delicate consumer information, so does each different social media platform. Chew says he believes that TikTok doesn’t gather any extra information than another social media platform.

Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) asks TikTok CEO Shou Chew: “Does TikTok entry the house WiFi community?”

After a five-minute rant from Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), Chew requested to answer questions and feedback however was instructed, “No. We’re going to maneuver on.”

Save our kids. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) confirmed a compilation of TikTok movies encouraging suicide and dying and instructed Chew, “Your expertise is actually resulting in dying.” After the video, Chew requested to say a phrase concerning the dying however was promptly reduce off mid-sentence in what appeared extra like a present than an effort to extract any significant info.

Rep. Castor (R-FL) blamed the CEO for folks’s algorithms inflicting them to commit suicide. She additionally reminded us that Fb and Instagram sat in the identical seats and instructed congress they knew of the problems and did nothing to stop youngsters from self-harm.

Right here’s what Twitter thought. An amazing majority of individuals watching and stay Tweeting the listening to are noticing that congress isn’t letting Chew reply to questions and accusations.

I simply need Shou Zi Chew ( TikTok CEO ) to say to out of contact congress “what’s killed extra folks – TikTok, or weapons?” #TikTokTrial

— HM (@HMTV92) March 23, 2023

Received a maintain of the script for the TikTok listening to.

Politicians: <Insert Rant right here attempt to keep away from citing your sources>. “Sure or no?”

Do not let him reply any questions.

Politicians: Cease being evasive!

All theater, people.

— Danny Goodwin (@MrDannyGoodwin) March 23, 2023

They’re blaming the TikTok CEO for physique dissatisfaction, nervousness and despair, like our nation would not give us a mass taking pictures each different day, financial uncertainty, elected officers taking us again to Jim Crow and trash-ass “meals” on our cabinets! The hypocrisy is INFURIATING!

— Marlissa Collier | iThink 🧠 iSpeak 🎙️ (@iDrankPolitics) March 23, 2023

Watching the TikTok CEO testify earlier than congress is wild. They’re simply allowed to accuse and say what they need after which not let him reply and transfer on to the following particular person. What is the level?

— Hallie M. (@pockkets_) March 23, 2023

Tiktok CEO is being put by way of a kangaroo court docket. I will be one to confess that the app is addictive and social media on the whole is dangerous, however being continually interrupted as a result of the reply to those geriatric cuck’s questions is extra sophisticated than “sure” or “no” is embarassing

— Mr. Shazboto (@MrShazboto) March 23, 2023

Congress is not even giving the TikTok CEO an opportunity to talk. They make some extent at him and when he tries to reply they do not like his reply and reduce him off. They’ve an agenda and simply are holding this listening to as a formality and to say they tried once they actually havent

— hunty ⭐️🌙 (@huntys_pov) March 23, 2023

Dig deeper. Watch it stay. In case you have the endurance.

Why we care. A TikTok ban might have a major influence on the way forward for the favored social media app, and due to this fact their promoting technique. If TikTok is banned or faces extreme restrictions, it might have an effect on the app’s consumer base and probably make it much less enticing to advertisers.

Moreover, if the listening to reveals critical safety or privateness issues with the app, it might result in a lack of belief amongst customers and advertisers alike. Alternatively, if the listening to goes effectively and TikTok is allowed to proceed working with minimal restrictions, it might current a useful alternative for advertisers to proceed reaching a big and engaged viewers on the platform.