Lawmakers grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on Thursday in a high-stakes hearing on the future of the popular, Chinese-owned video sharing platform in the U.S.
“While TikTok videos provide a new, fun way for people to express their creativity and enjoy the videos of others, the platform also threatens the health, privacy, and security of the American people,” said Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J. 6th District) during the hearing.
With Congress weighing a bill to fully ban TikTok, Chew made the case that the company is committed to addressing lawmakers' concerns about privacy, user safety, and data security.
“Trust is about actions we take. We will firewall protect the U.S. data from unwanted foreign access," Chew said. "TikTok will remain a place for free expression and will not be manipulated by any government."
He also stressed that protecting younger users from harmful content would be a top priority and that TikTok would allow third-party monitors to scrutinize its operations.
In addition, Chew touted an effort called Project Texas, which aims to move all data collected from U.S. citizens to within the country.
These appeals mostly fell on deaf ears, with representatives from both sides of the aisle insisting that TikTok is working closely with the Chinese government.
"I still believe that the Beijing communist government will still control and have the ability to influence what you do," said Pallone in reference to Project Texas.
Chew responded to these accusations by repeatedly noting that TikTok is an independent company. “TikTok is not available in mainland China, and today we’re currently headquartered in Los Angeles and Singapore," he said.
Overall, the hearing was short on partisan bickering, as neither Democrats or Republicans had much positive to say about the platform.
“Welcome to the most bipartisan committee in Congress,” Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga. 1st District).
Updated with the latest information from the hearing.
It's a tough time for the job market. Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a “no-hire, no fire” standstill. At the same time, some sizeable layoffs have continued to pile up — raising worker anxieties across sectors. Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs due to U.S.'s new tariffs, while others have redirected money to artificial intelligence investments. Workers in the public sector have also been hit hard. Federal jobs were cut by the thousands earlier this year. And many workers are now going without pay as the U.S. government shutdown has now dragged on for more than a month.
Nvidia smashes earnings with record-breaking revenue and soaring Blackwell demand as shares slip this morning, Barron’s senior writer Adam Levine unpacks it all
Jeff Wagoner, CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group, discusses the company’s coral preservation initiatives and sustainable practices at their hotels and resorts.
Dena Jalbert, Head of M&A at Align Advisory, discusses the state of mergers and acquisitions in 2025 and beyond, highlighting key trends and opportunities.
Kim Perell, author and entrepreneur, shares actionable tips and tricks to help current and aspiring entrepreneurs kick off 2026 with confidence and momentum.
Computer chipmaker Nvidia is poised to release a quarterly earnings report that is expected to either deepen a recent downturn in the stock market or prompt an ebullient sigh of relief among investors increasingly worried the world’s most valuable company is perched upon an artificial intelligence bubble about to burst.
Emera CEO Scott Balfour discusses soaring energy demand, AI-driven grid challenges, clean-power investments, and how the company is building a resilient future.
JB Mackenzie discusses Robinhood’s new entertainment prediction markets, letting users engage with pop culture, award shows, and more through low-stakes bets.
