U.S. lawmakers grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew for nearly six hours on March 23, demanding answers about alleged national security risks tied to the platform’s 150 million American users. While Chew insisted TikTok operates independently and prioritizes user safety, legislators repeatedly challenged his claims, citing fears of data access by the Chinese mainland.
CGTN spoke to U.S. residents about their concerns. “TikTok uses data to customize content, but it’s no riskier than Instagram or Facebook,” said one interviewee, reflecting widespread skepticism about singling out the app. Critics argue the debate overlooks broader tech privacy issues, with one analyst noting: “All social platforms collect data—this is about geopolitics as much as security.”
As Congress weighs a nationwide ban, young users question whether targeting TikTok addresses systemic data vulnerabilities or escalates U.S.-China tech tensions.
Reference(s):
Is TikTok really a threat to U.S. user data privacy and security?
cgtn.com
