


TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew told Congress on Thursday that he had no reason to believe that the app had provided U.S. user data to Chinese officials, a subject of considerable controversy factoring into the push in Washington to restrict or ban the social media platform.
There is "no evidence that the Chinese government has access" to U.S. user data, Chew said in testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
WATCH LIVE: TIKTOK CEO TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS AS LAWMAKERS CONSIDER NATIONAL BAN
Chew's remarks were met with skepticism. "I find that actually preposterous," Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) said.
Questioned over U.S. user data, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified he’s seen ‘no evidence that the Chinese government has access to that data.’
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 23, 2023
Rep. Anna Eshoo: ‘I find that actually preposterous.’ pic.twitter.com/Gouzn6p32c
Members of Congress have proposed several bills to restrict TikTok in the U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has written a bill to ban the app outright. In contrast, Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD) have introduced legislation to provide extra powers to the Commerce Department to analyze and determine if foreign business deals are security risks.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
TikTok expanded its efforts to lobby in Washington in the last year. The social media company spent the fourth-highest amount on lobbying expenses from any internet company, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan platform tracking political spending.