TikTok CEO grilled over security concerns

The CEO of TikTok made a rare public appearance on Thursday before a US Congressional committee, where he faced a grilling on data security and user safety while he makes his own case for why the hugely popular video-sharing app shouldn't be banned.

Shou Zi Chew's testimony comes at a crucial time for the company, which has acquired 150 million American users but is under pressure from US officials.

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have been swept up in a wider geopolitical battle between Beijing and Washington over trade and technology.

In her opening statement, Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, assailed the social platform's trustworthiness because of its close ties to Beijing.

"Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security," McMorris Rodgers said. "TikTok has repeatedly chosen a path for more control, more surveillance and more manipulation."

Chew, a 40-year-old Singapore native, will tell the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce that TikTok prioritises the safety of its young users and deny allegations that the app is a national security risk, according to his remarks released ahead of the hearing.

"There are many misconceptions about our company and I'm very proud to come here and represent them and all our users in this country," Chew told reporters before entering the hearing.

On Wednesday, the company sent dozens of popular TikTokers to Capitol Hill to lobby lawmakers to preserve the platform.

It has also been putting up ads all over Washington that tout promises of securing users data and privacy and creating a safe platform for its young users.

TikTok has been dogged by claims that its Chinese ownership means user data could end up in the hands of the Chinese government.