1-2-2024 (WASHINGTON) Chew Shou Zi, the Singaporean CEO of TikTok, found himself at the center of a heated questioning session with a US senator regarding his alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This encounter took place during the Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis session convened by the US Senate.
Chew Shou Zi was among several top executives from major social media companies who faced scrutiny from lawmakers, who aimed to address concerns raised by parents and mental health experts regarding the potential harm caused to children by these platforms in pursuit of profits.
During the hearing, Chew Shou Zi testified alongside industry leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg (Meta CEO), Linda Yaccarino (X CEO), Evan Spiegel (Snap CEO), and Jason Citron (Discord CEO). However, the focus remained on Chew’s connections to China.
One US senator, Tom Cotton, repeatedly questioned Chew about his citizenship and affiliations. Cotton asked Chew about the nation he holds citizenship in, to which Chew promptly responded, “Singapore.” Cotton further inquired if Chew had ever applied for Chinese citizenship, to which Chew firmly replied, “No, I did not.”
Continuing his line of questioning, Cotton asked Chew if he had ever been associated or affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party. Chew reiterated his Singaporean identity and categorically denied any association with the party.
The senators pressed the tech CEOs to take swift action to protect children from the escalating threats of sexual predation on their platforms, with one lawmaker accusing the companies of having “blood on their hands.” Chew, acknowledging the gravity of the issue, expressed his commitment to addressing the concerns raised. He mentioned that TikTok would allocate over US$2 billion towards trust and safety efforts. However, he refrained from disclosing how this figure compared to the company’s overall revenue.
Chew revealed that TikTok boasted over 170 million monthly active users in the United States, a significant increase from the previous year’s reported figure. It is worth noting that TikTok, a Chinese-owned short video app, faced intense scrutiny previously when questions were raised about its impact on children’s mental health and the potential sharing of user data with the Chinese government.
The hearing shed light on the ongoing concerns surrounding TikTok and its operations, particularly regarding data privacy and national security. Chew Shou Zi’s testimony provided an opportunity for lawmakers to delve into the depths of these issues and seek clarity from the CEO himself.
As the session concluded, it became evident that the US Senate’s scrutiny of TikTok and its CEO’s alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party would remain a topic of interest and concern for lawmakers and the public alike. The outcome of this hearing could potentially influence future legislation and regulations surrounding social media platforms and their operations in the United States.
