So how did TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s appearance before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce go right this moment?
Nicely, it’s exhausting to say – amid the common smattering of accusations framed as questions, and obscure queries that appeared to misconceive how the web itself works, Chew principally appeared to supply fastidiously worded solutions, whereas heading off something too tough by saying that he’d look into it.
In a vital listening to, which may resolve the way forward for the app within the US, Chew supplied a passionate protection of the platform, and sought to deal with US regulatory issues, with the important thing problem being the potential of American person knowledge being shared with the Chinese language Authorities.
Chew sought to dispel this notion, whereas TikTok additionally posted a public assertion on this:
4/ TikTok will stay a platform free of charge expression and won’t be manipulated by any authorities.
— TikTokComms (@TikTokComms) March 23, 2023
Chew was pressed on numerous facets, referring to TikTok’s previous actions on censorship (i.e. whether or not it censors content material essential of the CCP), its accessing of US person knowledge to trace journalists, it’s algorithm, youth security facets, and extra.
For essentially the most half, Chew was capable of navigate the varied questions with out making any definitive commitments. However on the identical time, his look, by various accounts, wasn’t overly assuring, or convincing, with reference to profitable over US senators.
Particularly, when pressed on whether or not ByteDance workers have spied on US residents prior to now, Chew deferred, saying that ‘I do not suppose spying is the precise technique to describe it’. Chew additionally questioned the observe document of American firms on person knowledge, when requested a couple of potential divestment from ByteDance – which looks like a good comparability, however is unlikely to resonate with US officers.
However the important thing assertion of Chew’s look was this:
“The underside line is that this – American knowledge is saved on American soil by an American firm overseen by American personnel.”
This was from Chew’s pre-prepared testimony, by which Chew defined that ‘Venture Texas’, TikTok’s multi-billion greenback plan to separate US person knowledge from its Chinese language dad or mum firm, will safe US person knowledge within the US, making it fully inaccessible to China-based workers.
TikTok’s hope is that this effort shall be sufficient to guarantee US regulators that American customers are protected.
However then once more, when pressed on one other key level, as as to if TikTok would ever take into account promoting person knowledge, Chew refused to supply a agency dedication, noting, as a substitute, that he would search additional clarification earlier than offering a solution.
On the finish of this, it nonetheless stays tough to find out the place TikTok is positioned, with reference to the potential of a full ban within the US. Even worse, the Chinese language Authorities has as soon as once more shared its opposition to the forced sell-off of the app, which signifies that if TikTok is banned by the US Authorities, a sell-off into native fingers will not be an possibility.
Which, as soon as once more, underlines the truth that TikTok’s future hinges on how US politicians understand Chew’s testimony.
Was he convincing sufficient in his explanations? Has TikTok achieved sufficient to guarantee policymakers of its intentions? Will Venture Texas be sufficient to reveal separation of entry inside dad or mum firm ByteDance?
Actually, the subsequent steps are probably out of Chew’s fingers both approach, because it nonetheless feels just like the rising tensions between the US and China would be the key determinate. Final month’s spy balloon incident raised the hackles of these involved about Chinese language interference, weighing additional in opposition to TikTok, whereas this week’s meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin has additional stoked issues.
On this respect, it looks like TikTok is caught within the center amidst a wider disagreement between the 2 nations, and it one other incident of this kind may find yourself being the factor that makes or breaks TikTok within the US.
Any additional indication of Chinese language defiance, particularly in opposition to the US, may power the White Home to behave. So whereas Chew might have achieved his greatest, perhaps there’s nothing he may do throughout the broader context.
