Senators question TikTok on hiring ByteDance executives.
Senators Demand Answers from TikTok Over Hiring of Chinese Executives
Two senators, one Republican and one Democrat, have raised concerns about Chinese-owned video-sharing platform TikTok after it recruited several high-level executives from its parent company ByteDance. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have written a letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, questioning the independence of TikTok’s operations and the security of its U.S. users’ information.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that numerous executives have made the move from ByteDance to TikTok this year, relocating from China to the United States. These former ByteDance executives now hold key positions in TikTok, including advertising, human resources, monetization, and business marketing. They have even brought their own staff from Beijing, according to the senators’ letter.
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8/9/2023The senators expressed concern that these personnel changes indicate TikTok’s attempt to maintain ByteDance’s influence while avoiding suspicion. They highlighted the potential national security risk posed by the transfer of employees from ByteDance to TikTok, given the Chinese Communist Party’s access to data held by Chinese companies.
Blackburn and Blumenthal have demanded answers from TikTok’s CEO regarding security protocols for transferred employees, the number of former ByteDance employees hired by TikTok, and whether these staff transitions were disclosed to relevant authorities. They also inquired about communication rules and supervision between TikTok employees in the U.S. and those based in China.
TikTok has until October 13 to respond to the senators’ questions. The platform has faced scrutiny over its alleged ties to the Chinese government, leading to bans on government-owned devices and calls for a nationwide ban in the United States.
Banning TikTok
At least 34 U.S. states and the federal government have already banned TikTok from government-owned devices. Legislation has been introduced to ban TikTok from operating within the United States, but progress on these bills has stalled. Former President Donald Trump attempted to ban TikTok in 2020, but the bans were blocked by courts. Sen. Josh Hawley plans to force a vote on banning TikTok later this year.
Despite TikTok’s claims of independence from the Chinese Communist Party, concerns about data security and national security risks persist. The company has shifted U.S. user data to Oracle servers in an effort to prevent a nationwide ban.
New York City and Montana are among the latest to ban TikTok on government-owned devices, and the latter is currently facing a lawsuit from the company over the ban.
Reuters contributed to this report.
How do the senators question the security measures for users’ data on TikTok and whether they could be compromised?
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The senators’ letter expresses concerns regarding the potential influence that these Chinese executives may have on TikTok’s operations. They questioned whether the executives would be subject to Chinese government pressure and whether TikTok’s security measures for users’ data could be compromised.
This comes at a time when there is already growing scrutiny and criticism towards TikTok and other Chinese-owned companies due to concerns over data privacy and national security. TikTok has faced accusations of sharing user data with the Chinese government, which the company has strongly denied.
The senators are calling for TikTok to provide answers and reassurances regarding the hiring of these Chinese executives and the potential implications on user data security. They also requested information on how TikTok plans to ensure the independence of its operations and protect its U.S. users’ information from any undue influence or access by the Chinese government.
TikTok has not yet responded publicly to the senators’ letter. However, this issue raises important questions about the relationship between Chinese-owned companies and their subsidiaries in other countries. With the increasing involvement of Chinese executives in foreign companies, concerns about data privacy and national security become more relevant.
As governments and regulators continue to grapple with these challenges, it is crucial for companies like TikTok to be transparent and accountable in their operations. Safeguarding user data and ensuring independence from the influence of foreign governments are vital for the trust and integrity of platforms like TikTok.
The senators’ demand for answers from TikTok is a reflection of the growing concerns and calls for greater scrutiny of Chinese-owned companies. It remains to be seen how TikTok will respond to these questions and whether it will be able to alleviate the senators’ concerns.
It is essential for policymakers, lawmakers, and regulatory bodies to closely monitor the activities of Chinese-owned companies and their subsidiaries to ensure data privacy, national security, and the protection of user information. Only through increased transparency and accountability can these concerns be addressed effectively.
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