TikTok CEO grilled at US Congress hearing

Chew added that the company has implemented stringent security measures to protect user data, including encryption and data storage protocols. He also said that the company has made significant investments in data security and privacy compliance in recent years.

However, some lawmakers remain skeptical about TikTok’s commitment to user privacy and national security. Senator Marco Rubio, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed concern about the potential for ByteDance to transfer data to the Chinese government, citing China’s security laws as evidence.

“Any data that TikTok collects on Americans, regardless of where that data is stored, ultimately goes back to China and could potentially be used by the Chinese government,” Rubio said.

Rubio also questioned whether TikTok could be used for espionage or cyberattacks against the US. “When we talk about cyber warfare, this is what we’re talking about. These are soft targets that are being exploited,” Rubio said.

Chew responded that TikTok has implemented measures to prevent malicious actors from exploiting the app. He added that the company works closely with law enforcement and other stakeholders to identify and address security threats.

“TikTok has invested significant resources in building a world-class security infrastructure to protect user data and provide a safe and secure app experience,” Chew said.