<p>TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s testimony before a US congressional hearing that lasted&nbsp;for almost five hours was gruelling and relentless.&nbsp;He faced a volley of questions over security concerns and the potential Chinese government’s influence.</p>

<p>This was Chow’s first-ever appearance before the US lawmakers as the TikTok CEO. The hearing witnessed a rare bipartisan call for banning the app on Thursday even as the 40-year-old tried to assuage their concerns saying, “Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country.”</p>

<p>But the lawmakers kept raising the heat as they wanted to know whether the Chinese government had access to TikTok’s millions of users’ data.</p>

<p>During her line of questioning, US lawmaker Debbie Lesko quoted India and other countries that have recently banned TikTok in some form.</p>

<p>"This (TikTok) is a tool which is ultimately under the control of the Chinese government and screams out with national security concerns Mr Chew. How can all of these countries and our FBI director be wrong? asked Lesko.</p>

<p>To which Chew responded, “I think a lot of risks pointed out are hypothetical and theoretical risks. I have not seen any evidence."</p>

<h2><strong>TikTok CEO grilled over alleged China ties by US lawmakers for 5 hours</strong></h2>

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<p>The US lawmaker reiterated and stressed the India ban again.</p>

<p>"India banned TikTok in 2020. On March 21, a Forbes article revealed how data of Indian citizens who used TikTok remained accessible to employees at the company and its Beijing-based parent. A current TikTok employee told Forbes that nearly anyone with basic access to company tools can easily look up the closest contact and other sensitive information about any user," Lesko informed her colleagues.</p>

<p>Chew responded by saying that they are looking into the testimony of the TikTok employee quoted by Forbes and asserted that he disagrees with the conclusions drawn from that article.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-users-descend-on-us-capitol-to-protest-against-calls-for-ban-on-app-574916">TikTok users descend on US Capitol to protest against calls for ban on app</a></strong></p>

<p>"This is a recent article; I have asked my team to look into it. We have rigorous data access protocols. There is no such thing that anybody can access the tools. So, I disagree with a lot of the conclusions," Chew said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-ceo-shou-zi-chew-assures-us-lawmakers-legacy-data-will-be-deleted-this-year-575125">TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew assures US lawmakers 'legacy' data will be deleted this year</a></p>

<p>In 2020, India banned TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps over privacy and security concerns. The ban was imposed shortly after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops at the Ladakh border in Galwan Valley LAC where 20 Indian soldiers were killed.</p>

<p>The companies were given a chance to respond to questions on privacy and security requirements but the ban was made permanent in January 2021.</p>

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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s testimony before a US congressional hearing that lasted for almost five hours was gruelling and relentless. He faced a volley of questions over security concerns and the potential Chinese government’s influence.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s testimony before a US congressional hearing that lasted for almost five hours was gruelling and relentless. He faced a volley of questions over security concerns and the potential Chinese government’s influence. This was Chow’s first-ever appearance before the US lawmakers as the TikTok CEO. The hearing witnessed a rare bipartisan call for banning the app on Thursday even as the 40-year-old tried to assuage their concerns saying, “Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country.” But the lawmakers kept raising the heat as they wanted to know whether the Chinese government had access to TikTok’s millions of users’ data. During her line of questioning, US lawmaker Debbie Lesko quoted India and other countries that have recently banned TikTok in some form. "This (TikTok) is a tool which is ultimately under the control of the Chinese government and screams out with national security concerns Mr Chew. How can all of these countries and our FBI director be wrong? asked Lesko. To which Chew responded, “I think a lot of risks pointed out are hypothetical and theoretical risks. I have not seen any evidence." TikTok CEO grilled over alleged China ties by US lawmakers for 5 hours The US lawmaker reiterated and stressed the India ban again. "India banned TikTok in 2020. On March 21, a Forbes article revealed how data of Indian citizens who used TikTok remained accessible to employees at the company and its Beijing-based parent. A current TikTok employee told Forbes that nearly anyone with basic access to company tools can easily look up the closest contact and other sensitive information about any user," Lesko informed her colleagues. Chew responded by saying that they are looking into the testimony of the TikTok employee quoted by Forbes and asserted that he disagrees with the conclusions drawn from that article. Also read | TikTok users descend on US Capitol to protest against calls for ban on app "This is a recent article; I have asked my team to look into it. We have rigorous data access protocols. There is no such thing that anybody can access the tools. So, I disagree with a lot of the conclusions," Chew said. Also read | TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew assures US lawmakers 'legacy' data will be deleted this year In 2020, India banned TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps over privacy and security concerns. The ban was imposed shortly after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops at the Ladakh border in Galwan Valley LAC where 20 Indian soldiers were killed. The companies were given a chance to respond to questions on privacy and security requirements but the ban was made permanent in January 2021. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘No evidence, hypothetical’: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on India’s reasons to ban app

<p>TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to testify Thursday in front of US lawmakers that the Chinese-owned app has never shared the data of US users with the government in China. The app, with over 150 million American users, has faced allegations that it shares user data with China, raising national security concerns.</p>

<p>“TikTok has never shared, or received a request to share, US user data with the Chinese government. Nor would TikTok honour such a request if one were ever made,” Chew will testify on Thursday, according to a written testimony posted on Tuesday by the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee.</p>

<p>The written testimony also says that TikTok's parent company ByteDance is not owned or controlled by any government or state entity. "Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country."</p>

<p>Calls for banning the app in the US have been growing, with lawmakers fearing that the app passes on data to the Chinese government. Several states have already banned its use on government devices. TikTok says that the Biden administration has asked Chinese owners to divest their stake in the app, or else it could face a ban in the country.</p>

<p>"Bans are only appropriate when there are no alternatives. But we do have an alternative," Chew's testimony said.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-monthly-active-users-in-us-jump-to-150-million-ceo-set-to-testify-before-congress-574185">TikTok's monthly active users in US jump to 150mn, company makes PR effort to tackle sullied image</a></p>

<p>TikTok has said that in order to make the app more secure, it has spent more than $1.5 billion on rigorous data security efforts under the name "Project Texas". The company is also trying to convince lawmakers and the Biden administration to support the plan.</p>

<p>In 2020, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) unanimously recommended that ByteDance divest TikTok. ByteDance sought a deal with Walmart and Oracle to shift TikTok's US assets into a new entity but failed to reach a deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The video app has been in talks with CFIUS for more than two years, trying to reach an agreement on protecting data.</p>

<p>A special-purpose subsidiary, TikTok US Data Security (USDS), was formed which currently has nearly 1,500 full-time employees. It has entered a contract with Oracle to store TikTok’s US user data.</p>

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<p>Chew said when the process is complete, "all protected US data will be under the protection of US law and under the control of the U.S.-led security team. Under this structure, there is no way for the Chinese government to access it or compel access to it."</p>

<p>According to Chew's testimony, 60 per cent of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors, including Blackrock, General Atlantic, and Sequoia, about 20 per cent by the company’s founders, and about 20 per cent by its employees "including thousands of Americans."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to testify Thursday in front of US lawmakers that the Chinese-owned app has never shared the data of US users with the government in China.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to testify Thursday in front of US lawmakers that the Chinese-owned app has never shared the data of US users with the government in China. The app, with over 150 million American users, has faced allegations that it shares user data with China, raising national security concerns. “TikTok has never shared, or received a request to share, US user data with the Chinese government. Nor would TikTok honour such a request if one were ever made,” Chew will testify on Thursday, according to a written testimony posted on Tuesday by the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. The written testimony also says that TikTok's parent company ByteDance is not owned or controlled by any government or state entity. "Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country." Calls for banning the app in the US have been growing, with lawmakers fearing that the app passes on data to the Chinese government. Several states have already banned its use on government devices. TikTok says that the Biden administration has asked Chinese owners to divest their stake in the app, or else it could face a ban in the country. "Bans are only appropriate when there are no alternatives. But we do have an alternative," Chew's testimony said. Also Read | TikTok's monthly active users in US jump to 150mn, company makes PR effort to tackle sullied image TikTok has said that in order to make the app more secure, it has spent more than $1.5 billion on rigorous data security efforts under the name "Project Texas". The company is also trying to convince lawmakers and the Biden administration to support the plan. In 2020, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) unanimously recommended that ByteDance divest TikTok. ByteDance sought a deal with Walmart and Oracle to shift TikTok's US assets into a new entity but failed to reach a deal. The video app has been in talks with CFIUS for more than two years, trying to reach an agreement on protecting data. A special-purpose subsidiary, TikTok US Data Security (USDS), was formed which currently has nearly 1,500 full-time employees. It has entered a contract with Oracle to store TikTok’s US user data. × Chew said when the process is complete, "all protected US data will be under the protection of US law and under the control of the U.S.-led security team. Under this structure, there is no way for the Chinese government to access it or compel access to it." According to Chew's testimony, 60 per cent of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors, including Blackrock, General Atlantic, and Sequoia, about 20 per cent by the company’s founders, and about 20 per cent by its employees "including thousands of Americans." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to testify that app never shared users’ data with Chinese government

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‘No evidence, hypothetical’: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on India’s reasons to ban app

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to testify that app never shared users’ data with Chinese government