TikTok has a plan to avoid getting banned in the US

TikTok on a smartphone

TikTok CEO Shou Chew has presented written testimony ahead of meeting the US House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss accusations around the platform's ties to China.

Chew is appearing in front of the committee on March 23, 2023, in order to address concerns about TikTok's ownership, and its collection of user data. These are issues that have already led to the House of Representatives ordering the removal of TikTok from its staff phones, and to an increasing likelihood of an outright ban.

CEO Shou Chew will answer questions from the committee, but he has already presented his case in a 5,000-word written testimony. In it, he argues that not only is TikTok popular in the US, but it is responsible for bringing worldwide "exposure to American musicians, artists, chefs, and many more."

"While users in the United States represent 10 percent of our global community," he writes, "their voice accounts for 25 percent of the total views around the world."

Chew also stresses how TikTok prides itself on "being a platform that helps [US] companies.. many of them small businesses... thrive." He says that over 150 million Americans use the platform, "and we know we have a responsibility to protect them."

Consequently, his testimony is split into emphasizing what specific steps the company is doing to address US concerns — and to denying Chinese connections.

"Let me state this unequivocally," he continues, "[TikTok owner] ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country."

Addressing US concerns

Describing the company's "Project Texas," Chew says that it involves his firm having "contracted with Oracle... to store TikTok's US user data" on servers within the US.

"Moreover, Oracle has already begun inspecting TikTok's source code and will have unprecedented access to the related algorithms and data models," he continues. "No other social media company, or entertainment platform like TikTok, provides this level of access and transparency."

TikTok is still transitioning to Oracle, which means it is currently also "deleting historical protected US user data stored on non-Oracle servers." When this is complete, later in 2023, Chew says, there will be "no way for the Chinese government to access [US user data] or compel access to it."

He also denies that China has ever requested data, plus he says TikTok would refuse if it were asked.

Chew argues that a ban onTikTok "hurts American small businesses, damages the country's economy, silences the voices of over 150 million Americans, and reduces competition in an increasingly concentrated market."

"Bans are only appropriate when there are no alternatives," he continues. "But we do have an alternative one that we believe addresses the concerns we've heard from this Committee and others."

That plan centers on four commitments. "We will keep safety — particularly for teenagers — a top priority for us," says Chew. "We will firewall protected US user data from unauthorized foreign access."

"Tiktok will remain a platform for free expression and will not be manipulated by any government," he says. And finally, "we will be transparent and give access to third-party independent monitors, to remain accountable for our commitments."

Much of Chew's position in the new testimony is, as he points out, the same that he has been discussing with the committee and other parties, particularly concerning Project Texas.

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33 Comments

dewme 5384 comments · 10 Years

About 1 year ago

It will be interesting to see how this plays out if the US actually goes through with a ban. There are probably around 100 million TikTok users in the US alone. Any blanket edict that affects that number of users is going to be seen as wildly Authoritarian and overreaching. It’s along the same lines as the EU threatening to ban iPhones if Apple doesn’t comply with their edicts. I believe Apple sells around 100 million phones a year in the EU.

These Authoritarian threats are being waved around by what are actually a very small number of individuals who feel emboldened by their positions of authority. But in most cases these people and groups are completely ignoring the preferences and choices held by hundreds of millions of people who would be impacted by the power plays being conducted by these small Authoritarian rule makers.

Does anyone think that 100 million EU residents would simply let themselves be forced to purchase a POS Android phone if the iPhone was “banned” by a small group of Authoritarians, many of whom are elected? I don’t see that happening. But of course Apple isn’t going to test those waters and will succumb to the Authoritarians living out their best lives/fantasies as big bad power players.

jbdragon 2311 comments · 10 Years

About 1 year ago

I haven't used TikTok ever and have no plans to ever use it. I don't think it should be banned anywhere than from Government use. Then again I don't think government phones just have much of anything on it, then what is required. You have your Government phone for work, you have your own personal phone for outside of work.

ihatescreennames 1909 comments · 19 Years

About 1 year ago

I also haven’t used and have no plans to use TikTok and whatever happens to it matters little to me. We frequently see articles here mentioning that people/politicians are concerned with the amount of user data TikTok collects. I have yet to see anything that spells out what that data is and why it’s more of a concern with TikTok than it is with any other app that comes out of China. I’d like to see a little more clearly what those concerns are based on.

I completely agree that government devices should be free of any app that isn’t directly related to doing the job.

sflocal 6097 comments · 16 Years

About 1 year ago

I deleted my TikTok account months ago, and even then was only a TikTok user for about a year prior.

It was a cesspool of misinformation and toxic to a degree that it started affecting my mental health. It brings out the ugliness of people.

While I’m not necessarily a fan of government oversight, I believe the CCP definitely has an agenda with messing with the brains of those users. The CEO is full of BS.

sdw2001 17436 comments · 23 Years

About 1 year ago

dewme said:

It will be interesting to see how this plays out if the US actually goes through with a ban. There are probably around 100 million TikTok users in the US alone. Any blanket edict that affects that number of users is going to be seen as wildly Authoritarian and overreaching. It’s along the same lines as the EU threatening to ban iPhones if Apple doesn’t comply with their edicts. I believe Apple sells around 100 million phones a year in the EU.
These Authoritarian threats are being waved around by what are actually a very small number of individuals who feel emboldened by their positions of authority. But in most cases these people and groups are completely ignoring the preferences and choices held by hundreds of millions of people who would be impacted by the power plays being conducted by these small Authoritarian rule makers.

Does anyone think that 100 million EU residents would simply let themselves be forced to purchase a POS Android phone if the iPhone was “banned” by a small group of Authoritarians, many of whom are elected? I don’t see that happening. But of course Apple isn’t going to test those waters and will succumb to the Authoritarians living out their best lives/fantasies as big bad power players.

I don't agree that politicians pushing a ban are "authoritarian," nor do I agree with comparing them to the actual authoritarians in the EU who seek to mandate USB-C and possibly ban the iPhone.

TikTok is a national security threat. It is a serious threat to our youth. You have a company with deep ties to the CCP. The Western version of TikTok uses algorithms that push users towards sex, drugs, etc. Meanwhile, the Chinese version algorithms push positive and productive content (organized dance, national pride, etc.). User data is being collected in droves and obviously is accessed by the CCP. The CCP is getting detailed user data on hundreds of millions of people. Their goal is to eventually supplant the U.S. as the global superpower, with the intermediate goal of usurping us (and our alliances) in their sphere.

Now, I'm not making the argument to ban it per se. However, I certainly understand the argument to do so. Obviously, a ban on a such a popular app would be major and virtually unprecedented step. I don't know exactly how it would be implemented, either. It will be interesting to see what happens. I don know there is bipartisan support for it.