On 1/31/2024, Shou Zi Chew, CEO of ByteDance-owned TikTok, found himself under scrutiny as lawmakers probed into the platform’s ties with China, particularly its parent company ByteDance, and the extent of access granted to the Chinese government.
During the hearing, Arkansas Republican Sen Tom Cotton questioned Chew about his appointment as CEO coinciding with the Chinese Communist Party’s acquisition of a 1 per cent stake in ByteDance’s main Chinese subsidiary.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew was grilled several times on the company’s connection to China, via its parent company ByteDance, and the amount of access and influence the platform grants to the Chinese government.
In one instance, Chew told Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton that it was “a coincidence” that he was appointed CEO of the platform a day after the -’s China internet investment fund bought a 1% stake in ByteDance’s main Chinese subsidiary, getting a seat on the board of the subsidiary. Cotton noted that in 2021, while the TikTok was the CFO of Bytedance, the China Internet Investment Fund, the a Chinese government investment fund, took a “one percent stake” in the ByteDance technology company. “In return for that one percent golden share, the party took one of three board seats at that subsidiary company, is that correct,” Cotton asked.
“It’s for the Chinese business, yes,” the TikTok CEO responded.
“That deal was finalized on April 30, 2021. Isn’t it true that you were appointed the CEO of TikTok the very next day on May 1, 2021?”
“It’s a coincidence,” the TikTok CEO said.
“That’s a hell of a coincidence,” Cotton said.
Cotton: Finally, Mr. Chew, has the Federal Trade Commission sued TikTok during the Biden Administration?
Chew: Senator, I cannot talk about whether there’s any.
Cotton: Are you being currently sued by the Federal Trade Commission?
Chew: Senator, I cannot talk about any potential law, say potential actual.
Cotton: Are you being sued by the Federal Trade Commission?
Chew: Senator? I think I’ve given you my answer. I can talk
Cotton: no. Miss Yo’s company is being sued. I believe Mr. Zuckerberg’s company is being sued. I believe yet TikTok, the agent of the Chinese Communist party, is not being sued by the Biden Administration. Are you familiar with the name Christina Kafara?
Chew: You may have to give me more details.
Cotton: Christina Kafara was a paid adviser to ByteDance, your communist-influenced parent company. She was then hired by the Biden FTC to advise on how to sue Mr. Zuckerberg’s company.
Chew: Senator B is a global company and not a Chinese communist.
Cotton: Public reports indicate that your lobbyists visited the White House more than 40 times in 2022. How many times did your company’s lobbyist visit the White House last year?
Chew: I don’t know that, Senator.
Cotton: Are you aware the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee are on your platform?
Chew: They have TikTok accounts. Senator, we encourage people to come on to.
Cotton: They won’t let their staffers use their personal phones. They give them separate phones that they only use TikTok on.
Chew: We encourage everyone to join in.
Cotton: So all these companies are being sued by the FTC. You’re not. The FTC has a former paid advisor, a parent talking about how they can sue Mr. Zuckerberg’s company. Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, the Democratic National Committee, is on your platform. Let me ask you, have you or anyone else at TikTok communicated with or coordinated with the Biden Administration, the Biden campaign, or the Democratic National Committee to influence the flow of information on your platform?
Chew: We work with anyone, any creators who want to use our campaign. It’s all the same, um, process. Have okay.
Cotton: So what we have here, we have a company that’s a tool of the Chinese Communist party … and that, at best, the Biden Administration is taking a pass on, at worst, maybe in collaboration with.
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Cotton: all companies being sued by FTC but Tiktok is not. “hell of a coincidence” Chew became TikTok CEO