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'

[24 March 2023 11:00 · Graeme Massie]

TikTok CEO dodges question on whether Chinese government has persecuted Uyghurs

TikTok CEO Shou Chew dodged a question from GOP Rep Debbie Lesko on whether the Chinese government had persecuted the Uyghur population.

Mr Chew demurred, explaining that TikTok offers users an opportunity to speak out on a number of issues. He also expressed concern about human rights abuses in general, but did not directly respond to the question.

[24 March 2023 12:01 · Graeme Massie]

TikTok CEO says government devices ‘should have no social media apps'