TikTok CEO Xu Qiu said in his testimony today, Thursday, that the company takes US concerns seriously.
“We will not allow user data to be tampered with by any party. It is our responsibility to protect American users and we are committed to that,” he added.
The director of TikTok confirmed that only American employees can access American data, and that user data in America is reinforced with protection systems.
The testimony of the head of TikTok, before the US House Energy and Commerce Committee, in Washington, came in an attempt to assuage congressional concerns about national security.
The TikTok chief is seeking to convince lawmakers that the app, which has 150 million users in the United States alone, does not pose a threat to Americans or share data with the Chinese government.
For its part, Congress said that “Tik Tok” poses a threat to Americans’ data and must be transparent.
According to Congress, the Chinese Communist Party may hack Americans’ phones via TikTok.
Congress called on TikTok to control the content and not turn it into a spying tool.
With this testimony in particular, it is clear that Chiu is facing an absurd battle amid the odds that key lawmakers on the commission have already made up their minds.
For its part, the Chinese government warned against selling TikTok, and said the move would undermine foreign investor confidence in the United States.
Beijing said, “We will firmly oppose any US move to force TikTok owners to sell it.”
Republican aides on the committee told reporters earlier this week that Republican committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers wants a ban on TikTok in America.
