TikTok’s CEO Interrogated Over Data Privacy

The CEO of TikTok Shou Zi Chew faced strong questioning about the social media app’s privacy from US legislators for more than five hours last week, about whether China has used the app to spy on American usersThe questions came from combative US lawmakers on both ends of the political spectrum over the video-sharing app's alleged ties to China and its potential danger to teenagers. 

TikTok has of millions of US users, and lawmakers have long held concerns over China’s control over the app. In particular, US Congress members expressed concerns about child safety on the app, asked for more parental controls and more comprehensive privacy legislation. 

The hearing marked the first ever appearance before US lawmakers by a TikTok chief executive, and a rare public outing for the 4o-year-old Chew, who has remained largely out of the limelight as the social network’s popularity soars. 

 When Rep. Neal Dunn asked Chew whether Bytedance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, “has spied on Americans at the direction of the Chinese Communist Party,” Chew said “no.” Mr Chew went on “Let me state this unequivocally: ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country,” 

Dunn also mentioned a newspaper report published in October 2022, that focused on ByteDance’s plans to monitor the physical locations of some US TikTok users. “I don't think that ‘spying’ is the right way to describe it. This is ultimately an internal investigation,” Chew said.

The popular short-form video app has been in the lawmakers’ focus for years as it was possible that TikTok’s data could be accessed by ByteDance and then by the Chinese government

Chew was interrogators by included Rep. John Joyce, who asked about data security and TikTok’s plan to delete data rather than just move it from one server to another. “You have publicly stated that the nonpublic information of TikTok users in the United States is being transferred to an Oracle-based cloud infrastructure because of safety concerns…What’s the outline for dealing with that data that you’ve already amassed?” To which Mr Chew replied “All new data is already stored by default in this Oracle Cloud infrastructure" adding that the effort to move older data should be finished later this year. 

When pressed that TikTok only began planning to delete data after Congress asked about it earlier this month, Chew said TikTok hired a third-party auditor to help with the process and defended the company’s actions: “Congressman, respectfully, there are many companies that use a global workforce. We are not the only one.”
The CEO Chew said TikTok started deleting “historical protected U.S. user data stored in non-Oracle servers” in March and “we expect this process to be completed later this year.” 

These events may culminate in a long predicted and much delayed move by US legislators to regulate the social media platform and it is possible the TikTok’s days may be required to withdraw for the US market. 
 

US Congress:     DefenseOne:   Forbes:   Le Monde:   You Tube:   CNBC:   Guardian:     Platformer:  

You Might Also Read: 

TikTok Is Banned From British Government Phones:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

If you like this website and use the comprehensive 6,500-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.

  • Individual £5 per month or £50 per year. Sign Up
  • Multi-User, Corporate & Library Accounts Available on Request

Cyber Security Intelligence: Captured Organised & Accessible


 

« NCSC Launches Services For Small Firms To Be Safe Online
Russia's Disinformation Campaign Targets Ukraine's Supporters »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

ZenGRC

ZenGRC

ZenGRC - the first, easy-to-use, enterprise-grade information security solution for compliance and risk management - offers businesses efficient control tracking, testing, and enforcement.

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout

DigitalStakeout enables cyber security professionals to reduce cyber risk to their organization with proactive security solutions, providing immediate improvement in security posture and ROI.

Cortado

Cortado

Cortado Mobile Solutions is a manufacturer of enterprise mobility solutions.

Secure Recruiting International (SRI)

Secure Recruiting International (SRI)

SRI is an industry leader in Information Security , Networking, Wireless and Storage recruitment.

Dubex

Dubex

Dubex is Denmark's leading business-oriented IT security specialist.

bwtech@UMBC

bwtech@UMBC

The bwtech@UMBC Cyber Incubator is an innovative business incubation program that delivers business and technical support to start-up and early-stage cybersecurity/IT products and services companies.

Riverside Research

Riverside Research

Riverside Research is a not-for-profit organization chartered to advance scientific research in areas including Trusted & Resilient Systems.

Calian Group

Calian Group

Calian is a diverse Canadian company offering professional services in areas including IT Consulting, Cyber Security and IT Products.

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird is an international law firm with a focus on helping organisations being changed by technology and the digital world. Areas of expertise include cyber security.

Department of Justice - Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC)

Department of Justice - Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC)

The Office of Cybercrime within the Philippines Department of Justice is the Central Authority in all matters relating to international mutual assistance and extradition for cybercrime.

SmartContractAudits.com

SmartContractAudits.com

SmartContractAudits.com is the leading platform for finding companies providing smart contract auditing services.

National CyberWatch Center

National CyberWatch Center

National CyberWatch Center is a cybersecurity consortium working to advance cybersecurity education and strengthen the national workforce.

Acceptto

Acceptto

Acceptto offers the first unified and continuous authentication identity access platform with No-Password.

Cloud Box Technologies

Cloud Box Technologies

Cloud Box Technologies is one of the premier IT Infrastructure Solution providers in the Middle East.

CICRA Consultancies

CICRA Consultancies

Cicra Consultancies is a company that specializes in cyber security. Our major activities are guided by three main principles: Prevent, Investigate, Prosecute.

OSI Security

OSI Security

OSI Security's primary services include penetration testing, security auditing, web application security testing and risk management.

Heartland Business Systems (HBS)

Heartland Business Systems (HBS)

Heartland Business Systems serves commercial, public sector and small to medium business with results-driven and dedicated information technology services.

AT&T Cybersecurity

AT&T Cybersecurity

AT&T Cybersecurity’s Edge-to-Edge technologies provide threat intelligence, collaborative defense, security without the seams, and solutions that fit your business.