TikTok ban – as it happened: CEO Shou Chew says social media apps should be banned from government devices

TikTok is facing a complete ban in the US over fears that China is using the app as a covert tool for spying and spreading propaganda

TikTok CEO Shou Chew says that no government devices should have social media apps on them.

“I disagree with that characterisation. I think the government devices should have no social media apps to be honest, not just targeted at us,” he told Rep John Joyce, from Pennsylvania during his testimony before Congress on Thursday.

TikTok is facing a complete ban in the US over fears that China is using the app as a covert tool for spying and spreading propaganda.

Mr Chew testified before Congress, with members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee raising their concerns about how much access the Chinese government has to user data, as well as how much influence the Chinese Communist Party has over it.

TikTok has consistently denied such allegations, though this has not stopped the US and other countries from banning the app from government and military-issued devices.

Some countries like India have even issued a nationwide ban of TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps as a result of national security worries.

With more than 150 million TikTok users in the US, many will be following Thursday’s proceedings closely to see if Biden’s administration follows India by banning TikTok.

You can follow all the latest news and updates in our live coverage here.

TikTok ban key points

• Who is TikTok CEO Shou Chew?
• TikTok ban in numbers
• TikTok CEO says government devices ‘should have no social media apps'

[23 March 2023 13:57 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

TikTok hearing about to begin

We’re minutes away from TikTok CEO Shou Chew from taking his seat before members of Congress.

A live stream is available here:

[23 March 2023 14:15 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

TikTok ban latest: CEO makes opening remarks

TikTok CEO Shou Chew starts by saying he looks forward to “discussing what makes TikTok so special to the diverse audiences it serves, as well as our efforts to promote minor safety, data privacy, and platform security.”

He adds: “I also welcome the chance to update you about our efforts to develop cutting-edge, multi-pronged initiatives to address national security concerns.”

( Screengrab)

[23 March 2023 14:16 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

TikTok ban latest: Congress members air concerns

Cathy McMorris Rodger, the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said during her opening remarks that allowing a Chinese-owned company access to the phone screens of American children and teenagers is "like allowing the Soviet Union to produce Saturday morning cartoons during the Cold War - but much more dangerous".

Ranking member Frank Pallone adds to these fears by saying disinformation campaigns could be launched through TikTok, while "addictive algorithms" were contributing to "emotional distress and depression" in school children.

[23 March 2023 15:09 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

TikTok ban latest: Congress members attack TikTok at CEO's hearing: 'Control, surveillance and manipulation'

You can read the full story from The Independent’s John Bowden in Washington DC here:

[23 March 2023 15:21 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

TikTok ban latest: Death threat to Congresswoman on TikTok remained up for 41 days

An apparent death threat to Chair Rodgers remained on TikTok for 41 days leading up to today’s hearing, according to Congresswoman Kat Cammack.

"You couldn't take action after 41 days when a clear threat, a very violent threat, to the chairwoman of this committee and the members of this committee was posted on your platform,” she said.

"You damn well know you cannot protect the data and security of this committee or the 150 million [US] users of your app, because it is an extension of the CCP."

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[23 March 2023 15:27 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

TikTok ban latest: Tiananmen Square massacre content available on TikTok

CEO Shou Chew earlier denied allegations that the Chinese Communist Party has the ability to censor content on TikTok. The Tiananmen Square protests were used an example, which Mr Chew insisted could be found among the app’s shortform content.

You can watch the video here:

[23 March 2023 15:36 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

TikTok ban latest: CEO questioned about app’s source code

Congressman Bill Johnson cites a Citizen Lab report that claims TikTok uses some of the same source code as the app Douyin, which is the Chinese version of TikTok also owned by ByteDance.

This, Mr Johnson claims, could allow the Chinese government to censor and influence content.

He accuses TikTok CEO Shou Chew of misleading the American public.

Mr Chew is not permitted to respond as the lawmaker yields his time.

[23 March 2023 15:53 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

TikTok ban latest: Questioning moves onto distressing content

The questioning has moved on to distressing content on the platform, with Congressman John Sarbanes claiming that TikTok is not doing enough to protect young users.

Congressman Brett Guthrie adds to this line of questioning by claiming that the Chinese version of TikTok Douyin would not allow such content on its platform.

CEO Shou Chew argues that a fairer comparison would be to US rivals like Facebook and Instagram, which face similar kinds of content moderation issues.

[23 March 2023 16:08 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

TikTok ban latest: Congressman brings up TikTok’s ‘biometric matrix'

Congressman Carter from Georgia is venturing into the territory of conspiracy here, questioning whether TikTok’s algorithm is fed by biometric data obtained by spying on a user through their phone’s camera.

“I want to talk about biometric matrix,” Mr Carter says. “Can you say with 100 per cent certainty that TikTok does not use the phone’s camera to determine whether the content that elicits a pupil dilation should be amplified by the algorithm?”

Mr Chew respondes: “We do not collect body, face or voice data to identify our users.”

[23 March 2023 16:10 · Anthony Cuthbertson]

TikTok ban latest: Time for a break

As Congressman Carter yields his time, we’ve now got a 10 minute recess.