Congresswoman Cammack Grills TikTok CEO During House Energy & Commerce Committee Hearing For Failing To Protect Americans' Privacy

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Kat Cammack pressed TikTok CEO Shou Chew during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on protecting Americans' safety and data from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The ByteDance-owned app, which has clear and proven ties to the CCP, has become one of the largest national security threats to the United States due to its ability to surveil and collect private citizens' data and influence minors who use the app through its algorithms that promote violence and pro-communist ideals.

In her line of questioning, Rep. Cammack displayed a video posted by a TikTok user on February 10, 2023, depicting gun violence and death threats against Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

"Your own community guidelines state that you have a, 'firm stance against enabling violence on or off TikTok. We do not allow people to use our platform to threaten or incite violence, or to promote violent extremist organizations, individuals, or acts. When there is a threat to public safety or an account is used to promote or glorify off-platform violence, we ban the account,'" said Congresswoman Cammack.

"This video has been up for 41 days," Cammack continued. "It is a direct threat to the Chairwoman of this committee, the people of this room, and yet, it still remains on the platform. [And] you expect us to believe that you are capable of maintaining the data security, privacy, and security of 150 million Americans, when you can't even protect the people in this room?"

Today's hearing, led by Chair Rodgers, is the first opportunity members of the committee have had to directly question Mr. Chew about TikTok's consumer privacy and data security practices, the platform's impact on children, and its relationship with the Chinese Communist Party.

The congresswoman's remarks during the full committee hearing can be found here.