TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faces off with US legislators in hearing | Technology News [Video]

The CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, is squaring off with United States legislators in his first public congressional hearing over the app’s alleged ties to the Chinese government.

The hearing on Thursday is being held as support in Washington has grown for banning the Chinese-owned app over national security concerns. The administration of President Joe Biden reportedly has called on TikTok’s Chinese owners to sell the app or lose the ability to operate in the US.

Legislators have alleged that US user data could easily be shared with the Chinese government, the app could be a disinformation and propaganda platform for Beijing and TikTok does not adequately protect children from harm. China has countered that the US is spreading disinformation and suppressing users.

About 150 million US residents are among TikTok’s one billion monthly global users, according to the company. That is nearly half the country’s population.

“The Chinese Communist Party is able to use this as a tool …