In a highly anticipated hearing on Big Tech and the online child exploitation crisis, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced a barrage of tough questions from U.S. senators, particularly Republicans, regarding the alleged suppression of anti-China views on the popular social media app. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) raised concerns about TikTok’s ties to the Chinese government and its potential impact on American users’ data privacy.
During the hearing, Sen. Cruz questioned the stark contrast between the content promoted on China’s version of TikTok, Douyin, and the content promoted in the United States. He cited a study that revealed a significant disparity in the number of posts related to sensitive topics such as Uyghur, Tibet, Hong Kong protests, and Tiananmen Square. According to the study, Instagram had far more posts on these subjects compared to TikTok, raising suspicions of content censorship at the request of the Chinese government.
CEO Chew denied the study’s findings, claiming that they had been “debunked” and that TikTok does not suppress any content. He insisted that TikTok allows users to freely express themselves and that critical content regarding China can also be found on the platform.
Sen. Cotton pressed Chew on TikTok’s ties to its parent company, ByteDance, and the Chinese Communist Party. He highlighted how the CCP had purchased a stake in ByteDance’s main Chinese subsidiary and took a board seat. Cotton questioned whether Chew, as TikTok’s CEO, could truly claim independence from the influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
Chew maintained that he serves his nation of Singapore and has not pursued Chinese citizenship or a passport from any other nation. He downplayed the significance of the CCP’s involvement in ByteDance, calling it a coincidence that the deal was finalized on the same day he was appointed CEO of TikTok. However, Sen. Cotton expressed skepticism, stating, “That’s a hell of a coincidence.”
The hearing also touched upon TikTok’s role in promoting harmful content, particularly self-harm videos and anti-Israel propaganda, to American users, especially children. Sen. Cotton referenced cases of teenagers who tragically took their own lives after being exposed to thousands of TikTok videos glorifying suicide.
Critics have questioned the Biden administration’s handling of TikTok compared to its legal actions against other tech companies. Cotton pointed out that the Federal Trade Commission has not sued TikTok, despite allegations of privacy and security concerns. He further highlighted the appointment of a former paid adviser to ByteDance, Cristina Caffarra, by the Biden FTC to advise on how to sue Mark Zuckerberg’s company, raising suspicions of potential collaboration between the Biden administration and TikTok.
Chew avoided commenting on any potential coordination with the Biden administration or the Democratic National Committee, stating that TikTok is a neutral platform where anyone can freely express themselves. He emphasized that TikTok prioritizes the safety and well-being of its users, especially children.
As the hearing concluded, it became clear that the concerns surrounding TikTok’s ties to the Chinese government and its content moderation practices persist. Republican senators, in particular, voiced skepticism over the platform’s claims of independence and transparency. The implications of this hearing could potentially lead to further scrutiny of TikTok’s operations and its impact on American users.
Overall, the hearing shed light on the ongoing debate surrounding Big Tech’s relationship with China and the need for greater accountability in protecting user data and promoting responsible content on social media platforms.
