TikTok, which has over 150 million customers within the United States, is an entirely owned subsidiary of the Chinese era company ByteDance. Amid US’ issues over nationwide safety, the multimedia platform’s leader government Shou Zi Chew was once grilled for just about six hours on Thursday by means of US lawmakers about China’s skill to get entry to the information of thousands and thousands of Americans.
Also learn | France bans ‘leisure’ use of TikTok, Twitter, Instagram on reliable telephones
The lawmakers swiftly reduce him off, claiming that the app was once a danger to US nationwide safety in addition to a risk to psychological well being. Chew was once aggressively wondered by means of each Republican and Democratic representatives on subjects equivalent to TikTok’s content material moderation practices.
Chew instructed lawmakers that TikTok prioritizes consumer protection with a view to steer clear of a ban in the USA by means of downplaying the app’s ties to China.
Also learn | There’s a private facet receive advantages: Canada’s Justin Trudeau jokes on TikTok ban
A ban will now be contingent at the passage of the “Restrict Act, a bipartisan invoice presented within the Senate this month that provides the USA Commerce Department authority to ban overseas era that threatens nationwide safety.
Who is Shou Zi Chew?
Chew lives in Singapore together with his spouse, Vivian Kao, and their two kids. The 40-year-old leader government finished his undergraduate research in 2006 at University College London and later labored for Goldman Sachs for 2 years.
Chew then went directly to pursue a grasp’s level at Harvard Business School within the United States. During his instructional adventure, he undertook a two-year internship at Facebook, consistent with a document by means of the Associated Press.
Upon finishing his MBA, Chew went directly to turn into a spouse at DST Global, a project capital company, the place he spent 5 years and contributed to funding actions that resulted in the formation of ByteDance. Following his tenure at DST Global, Chew spent some other 5 years at Xiaomi, a outstanding Chinese smartphone producer. In 2021, he was once named the CEO of TikTok, succeeding former Disney government Kevin Mayer. Chew now experiences to Liang Rubo, the CEO of ByteDance, the guardian corporate of TikTok.
How did Chew’s wondering with US lawmakers cross?
The results of the wondering didn’t convey Shou Zi Chew any nearer to answering the query whether or not the Chinese-owned TikTok will face a ban in the USA. At one level, when the lawmakers requested if ByteDance’s Chinese engineers have get entry to to the information of American customers, he mentioned: “It’s a complex subject.”
Chew spent the vast majority of the listening to looking to refute claims that TikTok or ByteDance are gear of the Chinese govt. But he refused to reply to uncomfortable questions on China’s human rights violations in opposition to Uyghurs, and he seemed to be greatly surprised by means of a TikTok video proven by means of a lawmaker that advocated for violence in opposition to the House committee protecting the listening to.
Chew instructed the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritizes the protection of its younger customers and denies that it poses a countrywide safety possibility. He reiterated the corporate’s plan to safeguard US consumer knowledge by means of storing it on Oracle-managed and owned servers.
(With inputs from companies)