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TikTok CEO has labeled India’s ban as ‘hypothetical’ while facing the US Congress | World news

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before the US Congress amid growing security concerns and the Chinese government’s potential influence over the company.

Shou Chew, chief executive of TikTok Inc., during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in Washington, DC, USA, on Wednesday.  (Bloomberg)
Shou Chew, chief executive of TikTok Inc., during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in Washington, DC, USA, on Wednesday. (Bloomberg)

Chew faced hostile questions from the House Energy and Commerce Committee as he verbally danced to make the case that the social media giant was taking “real action” to address national security concerns from the US.

During the four-hour hearing, Chew stressed that the TikTok app, which is owned by Chinese technology company Bytedance, has long maintained that it does not share data with the Chinese government and poses no risk to its 150 million users. in the US or share their data with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

US Congresswoman Debbie Lesko during her line of questioning said India and other countries have recently banned TikTok in a way.

Also Read: Has Tiktok ever shared US data with China? The CEO’s response to the ‘unnecessary’ is…

“This (TikTok) is an app which is under the control of the Chinese government which is loud with national security concerns Mr Chew, how can all these countries and our FBI director be wrong? asked Lesko.

“I think that many of the risks that you point to are recommendations and theoretical risks. I have not seen any evidence,” Chew replied.

The Congresswoman also reiterated and insisted on India’s ban. “India has banned TikTok in 2020. On March 21, a Forbes article revealed how the data of Indians who use TikTok was accessible to employees at the Beijing-based company and parent . A current TikTok employee told Forbes that almost anyone with basic access to the company’s tools can easily see the closest contact and other sensitive information about any user,” Lesko told his colleagues.

Also Read: TikTok is ramping up its PR campaign ahead of Capitol Hill CEO testimony

“This is a recent thing; I have asked my team to look into it. We have strong data access procedures. There is no such thing that anyone can access the tools. Therefore, I do not agree with many decisions, Chew replied. .

India imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps, including messaging app WeChat, in 2020 over privacy and security concerns. The ban comes shortly after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops at the LAC that killed 20 Indian soldiers and injured dozens. The companies have the opportunity to respond to questions on privacy and security requirements but the access is permanent in January 2021.

“You know very well that you cannot protect the data and security of this committee or the 150 million users of its app because it is an extension of CCP,” Florida Rep. Kat Cammack told Chew after playing a threatening video that also remained on the platform more than a month after it was posted, despite local guidelines prohibiting violence or threats.

Asked during a hearing in Congress by Republican Representative Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, the head of TikTok was unable to “prove 100 percent” that Beijing did not influence parts of the app. Chew said the company is committed to walling off US user data from “all unwanted foreign access” and will keep the content “free from any manipulation from any government.”

Another lawmaker from New Jersey said he wasn’t sure TikTok’s security plans would work. “I still believe that the Beijing Communist government will still control and have the power to influence what you do,” he said, pushing back on what he said was TikTok’s attempt to portray itself as “an independent company that just doing everyone’s job. .. I don’t buy it.”

Hours before the hearing, China repeatedly said it would not oppose any forced sale of TikTok, with its Ministry of Commerce saying any sale would involve the export of Chinese technology and must be approved by the Chinese government. China.

TikTok is already banned on federal government devices, including military devices, and a growing number of states in the US have banned state government devices.

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