- TikTok CEO Warns of Possible US Ban on App
- Concern for the privacy and data security of TikTok users at the congressional hearing.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has warned of a possible ban on the popular video app in the United States ahead of its congressional hearing.
Concerns about the privacy and data security of TikTok users have led some politicians to call for a ban on the app. However, Chew argues that this would affect the more than 150 million Americans who use the app, including 5 million small and medium-sized businesses.
At the hearing, Chew will testify about TikTok’s privacy and data security practices. Concerns about the potential handover of user data to the Chinese government have led US state governments to ban TikTok-related software on official devices and networks. But, as Maryland and Utah have shown, it’s hard for governments to completely disassociate themselves from TikTok.
According to a new report from Forbes, even if TikTok is banned nationwide, the personal data of Indian users is still accessible to TikTok and ByteDance employees, despite the country banning the app in 2020. This raises the question of whether it will ever be possible to “recover” the data of TikTok users that the company has already collected.
Uncertainty about the future of TikTok in the United States continues to be a hot topic. This week’s US House of Representatives hearing will provide an opportunity for TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to defend himself against allegations of improper data security and privacy practices. But it will also be an opportunity for US lawmakers to air their concerns and decide whether to crack down on the popular social media app.