TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi found himself back in the limelight after a video clip from a recent hearing surfaced online, where Republican Senator Tom Cotton relentlessly questioned him about his citizenship and background. Despite repeatedly affirming his Singaporean nationality, Shou Zi faced a barrage of inquiries regarding potential ties to China. The questioning included whether he was ever a member of the Chinese Communist Party or if he had applied for Chinese citizenship, to which Shou Zi consistently replied in the negative.
The relentless interrogation drew criticism from Singaporean netizens, who praised Shou Zi's composed responses while condemning the perceived racial undertones of the questioning. Many expressed admiration for Shou Zi's demeanour in handling the situation, contrasting it with the senator's line of inquiry.
The discussion also touched on broader issues, including TikTok's Chinese ownership and its handling of sensitive political topics. Senator Cotton pressed Shou Zi on matters ranging from the Tiananmen Square incident to the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China, as well as his opinions on Chinese leaders and the Chinese Communist Party.
Shou Zi reiterated TikTok's commitment to user privacy and denied any involvement in sharing data with the Chinese government. He emphasized TikTok's status as a private company with significant global investment and asserted its independence from Chinese government control.
Despite the scrutiny and scepticism from some senators, Shou Zi defended TikTok's practices, highlighting its efforts to safeguard user data and ensure transparency.
@learnabouttheworld1 Im from singapore. Senator Cotton questioned Shou Zi Chew, TikTok's CEO, during a hearing of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary #shouzichew #fyp #senator #us #cotton original sound - Topic Tide
However, the hearing underscored ongoing concerns about TikTok's Chinese ownership and its implications for national security, with some senators suggesting potential bans or restrictions on the platform.
Shou Zi's appearance before the panel echoed his previous efforts to address concerns about TikTok's ownership and data practices, indicating ongoing scrutiny and scepticism from lawmakers.
