The Home Committee on Power and Commerce listening to on Thursday was an “abject disaster” for TikTok, and even appeared to lead to lawmakers saying their assist for banning the China-owned app, in accordance with one former Politico author, and lots of different verified customers on Twitter appear to agree.
“This hearing is an abject disaster for TikTok,” Punchbowl Information reporter and veteran Poltiico author Andrew Desiderio reacted, including that “Several lawmakers are announcing — mid hearing — their support for a TikTok ban.”
A number of lawmakers are saying — mid-hearing — their assist for a TikTok ban. https://t.co/UNW5nWvzxf
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) March 23, 2023
“[In my opinion] this is done. I don’t see any way TikTok isn’t banned at this point,” Founders Fund Vice President Mike Solana tweeted. “Bi-partisan certainty the CCP is spying on 150 million Americans. They’re furious. I have never seen them lock-step in a hearing like this.”
IMO that is accomplished. I do not see any means TikTok is not banned at this level. Bi-partisan certainty the CCP is spying on 150 million Individuals. They’re livid. I’ve by no means seen them lock-step in a listening to like this.
— Mike Solana (@micsolana) March 23, 2023
“The full-scale bipartisan unity is indeed striking. The rage in that room is virtually unlimited,” journalist Glenn Greenwald concurred.
“Part is generalized rage at Big Tech: many concerns of which are valid: addictive algorithms, data privacy, mental health harms especially for minors. But it’s all being channeled onto one platform, spiced by bipartisan unity on CCP. Seems likely something comes out of this,” he added.
Half is generalized rage at Massive Tech: many issues of that are legitimate: addictive algorithms, knowledge privateness, psychological well being harms particularly for minors. But it surely’s all being channeled onto one platform, spiced by bipartisan unity on CCP. Appears possible one thing comes out of this.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) March 23, 2023
A number of clips of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew admitting alarming details about TikTok started circulating on social media in the course of the listening to.
“Then we all agree. Now ban it,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) tweeted in response to a video of Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) getting Chew to confess the Chinese language Communist Get together may have the aptitude to control knowledge and ship it to the USA.
Then all of us agree. Now ban it https://t.co/hP6Ie2Udrt
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 23, 2023
In one other instance, Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) demanded that Chew reply whether or not “any ByteDance employees in China, including engineers, currently have access to U.S. user data,” to which the TikTok CEO responded by admitting that they do.
“After Project Texas is done, the answer is no. Today, there is still some data that we need to delete,” Chew stated.
I simply pressed TikTok’s CEO about whether or not or not the Chinese language Communist Get together has entry to U.S. person knowledge.
He ADMITTED China has entry to U.S. knowledge. This could function a get up name and alarm each single American. pic.twitter.com/qmEVEkSrvT
— U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (@boblatta) March 23, 2023
“I haven’t had time to watch the entire hearing but from the clips I’ve seen, it’s been an utter disaster for the TikTok CEO,” Newsweek contributor Darvio Morrow stated in response to a video clip of Rep. Latta grilling the TikTok CEO.
I haven’t had time to observe your entire listening to however from the clips I’ve seen, it’s been an utter catastrophe for the TikTok CEO https://t.co/BdQNDQyDy2
— Darvio Morrow (@DTheKingpin) March 23, 2023
“What a disaster. TikTok’s CEO is woefully unprepared for this,” Morrow said in a follow-up tweet, reacting to a different clip from the listening to.
One other video showcased the TikTok CEO visibly struggling along with his reply to Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) whereas she repeatedly requested him if the app’s father or mother firm, ByteDance, can presently entry U.S. person knowledge.
US TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew admits that CCP managed ByteDance can entry American person knowledge. pic.twitter.com/woPqYqHD9r
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 23, 2023
On 4 separate events, Chew additionally refused to confess that the Chinese language Communist Get together is presently persecuting the Uyghur inhabitants within the nation.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew refuses FOUR TIMES to confess the Chinese language Communist Get together is persecuting the Uyghur inhabitants pic.twitter.com/tOUzELN13R
— RNC Analysis (@RNCResearch) March 23, 2023
For a lot of, the refusal to talk about China’s genocide of its Uyghur inhabitants is a sign that the person is managed by the Chinese language Communist Get together — like NBA star and billionaire companion of Communist China, LeBron James.
One video confirmed Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) telling Chew that she finds his declare that there’s “no evidence that the Chinese government has access” to sure knowledge “preposterous.”
TikTok CEO on Individuals’ Knowledge: “I have seen no evidence that the Chinese government has access to that data.”
REP. ESHOO: “I find that, actually, preposterous.”
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) March 23, 2023
One other video confirmed Chew admitting that TikTok tracks customers’ particular person keystrokes, and telling Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) that he’ll “get back” to her about whether or not the Chinese language app retains information of customers’ bank card info and passwords.
Throughout one other revealing portion of the listening to, Chew truly said, “I don’t think that ‘spying’ is the right way to describe” the alleged Chinese language surveillance of Individuals utilizing TikTok.
You possibly can observe Alana Mastrangelo on Fb and Twitter at @ARmastrangelo, and on Instagram.
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