On Wednesday, the chief executive of the popular social media platform TikTok, Kevin Mayer, underwent a brutal 5-hour questioning by the U.S. Congress. He was grilled on the Chinese-owned app’s alleged ties to Chinese government and its potential national security risks.
The hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee was one of the first congressional panels to focus on the potential security threats posed by the social media platform. The committee is looking into whether American citizens’ data is being shared with the Chinese Communist Party and if the platform poses a potential national security risk.
Lawmakers questioned Mayer on a wide range of issues, including whether the company is providing private user data to Chinese authorities. Mayer responded by stating that user data is stored in the U.S. and Singapore and that the company is compliant with local laws.
The hearing also saw some members of Congress pressing the CEO to explain how TikTok intends to address concerns about censorship and the platform’s impact on US elections. Mayer pushed back, contending that these were very serious issues, but not one’s that should be viewed in isolation. He emphasized that the app is subject to the same election law rules as other services, such as Facebook and Google.
Mayer also argued that there is no evidence of any kind of data breach and that the company maintains strict security standards when it comes to the collection, storage and use of user data. He added that the company has not and will not allow the Chinese government to access user data and reiterated that the app is adhering to all applicable laws.
Overall, it was a tough questioning session, but Mayer stood his ground. He maintained that TikTok is not an espionage tool and that the app provides an independent platform where people can express themselves in creative ways. He also explained the company’s efforts to improve transparency and implement new safety and security measures.
Ultimately, this hearing served to educate members of Congress on TikTok’s safety measures and policies. While Congress may still have concerns about the platform, Mayer appeared to make a good case for why Americans should continue to use the app.
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