Shou Zi Chew will testify that app will not be an ‘agent of China or another nation’ amid nationwide safety threat claims.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will inform United States legislators that the Chinese language-owned video app would by no means share customers’ information with Beijing amid a rising push within the US to ban the platform outright.
Chew will on Thursday converse earlier than the US Home of Representatives’ Power and Commerce Committee, the place he’s anticipated to be questioned on claims the app may very well be manipulated by the Chinese language Communist Get together.
The corporate final week confirmed stories that the White Home demanded TikTok minimize ties with its Chinese language homeowners or face a ban.
“TikTok has by no means shared, or obtained a request to share, US consumer information with the Chinese language authorities. Nor would TikTok honour such a request if one have been ever made,” Chew will testify on Thursday, in accordance with written testimony posted on Tuesday by the Home committee.
Chew added that TikTok’s dad or mum firm ByteDance will not be owned or managed by the Chinese language authorities or another state entity.
“Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance will not be an agent of China or another nation,” Chew will say.
TikTok’s critics, together with US legislators, say the app poses a threat to People’ privateness and US nationwide safety.
TikTok has mentioned it has spent greater than $1.5bn on an initiative to safeguard US customers’ information referred to as “Mission Texas”.
Beijing has accused Washington of “spreading disinformation” and “suppressing” the app.
In a TikTok submit on Tuesday, Chew mentioned greater than 150 million individuals within the US now use TikTok every month, up from 100 million in 2020.
“That’s nearly half of the US coming to TikTok to attach, to create, to share, to study or simply to have some enjoyable,” Chew mentioned.
Chew additionally requested the app’s customers to “let me know within the feedback what you need your elected representatives to learn about what you’re keen on about TikTok.”
“Some politicians have began speaking about banning TikTok. Now this might take TikTok away from all 100 and 50 million of you,” Chew mentioned.