TikTok chief battles in Congress to stop US ban on video app

TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew has faced US politicians who are seeking to ban the app over national security concerns.

The video hosting app, a subsidiary of Chinese-owned ByteDance, is under pressure from the US and other western governments over accusations that the Chinese state may have access to users’ data.

“Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” Mr Chew told the US Congress’s energy and commerce committee.

There are already bills circulating in Congress, including one endorsed by the White House, that would ban the app used by 150 million Americans.

President Joe Biden’s administration said the app could be banned if its Chinese owners do not sell their stake in the company.

“We do not trust TikTok will ever embrace American values – values for freedom, human rights and innovation,” said committee chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

“TikTok has repeatedly chosen a path for more control, more surveillance and more manipulation. Your platform should be banned.”

Mr Chew insisted the app does not “promote or remove content at the request of the Chinese government” or any other.

“You’re going to continue to gather data, you’re going to continue to sell data … and continue to be under the aegis of the Communist Party,” responded Frank Pallone, the top Democrat representative on the panel.

TikTok has sought to allay concerns over security and safety by revamping its community guidelines.

Mr Chew posted a video on how the app was beneficial to small businesses.

He has also outlined “Project Texas”, a $1.5 billion plan in which American users’ data would be stored by a TikTok US Data Security committee independent of ByteDance.

The US, the EU and the UK are among governments that have banned TikTok on official devices.