U.S. Senators Launch Investigation into TikTok's Chinese Executives, Raising Concerns Over User Security and Data Privacy
Two U.S. senators are investigating TikTok's decision to hire high-level executives from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, amid concerns about user data security and Chinese government influence. Critics have called for a ban on the app.
In a recent development, two United States senators have launched an investigation into the short video sharing app TikTok's decision to hire several high-level executives from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn have raised concerns about the independence of TikTok's operations and the security of its U.S. users' information, according to a letter addressed to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. This move comes as TikTok faces increasing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over possible Chinese government influence. With over 150 million American users, there have been calls for a nationwide ban on the popular app.
Critics have expressed worries about data privacy and the potential for ByteDance to hand over user data to the Chinese government or use it for propaganda purposes. Most recently, a top TikTok executive was questioned by senators regarding the app's ties to Beijing. This marked the first time a leader at TikTok has publicly answered lawmakers' concerns. The central issue revolves around whether ByteDance, the Chinese parent company, has the ability to access and share user data with the Chinese government or manipulate the platform for political purposes.
In response to these concerns, TikTok's Chief Operating Officer, Vanessa Pappas, has vehemently denied any collaboration with the Chinese government. She clarified that ByteDance does not have any headquarters in China and that the company has never shared data with the Chinese Communist Party. To address the growing concerns, TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, outlined plans to keep data about American users separate from ByteDance. The company intends to operate the app from servers controlled by Oracle, an American cloud computing giant.
This move aims to ensure that the operation of TikTok is audited by a third party and is not subject to Chinese influence. Despite these reassurances, some senators remain unconvinced. Senator Josh Hawley has called on Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to ensure TikTok completely severs ties with China, and he has urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate possible violations of federal laws.
Furthermore, two U.S. senators have demanded that TikTok clarify misleading or inaccurate responses about its data storage and access practices. Reports have indicated that TikTok stored financial information of U.S. content creators, including Social Security numbers and tax IDs, on Chinese servers. TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek maintains the accuracy of their testimonies and responses to Congress. As concerns surrounding TikTok's Chinese influence continue to grow, it is likely that further investigations and actions will be pursued to safeguard the security and privacy of its American users.