Obernolte said that, in his opinion, it was not “technically possible” for Project Texas to keep American user data out of China’s reach. Advertisementīut Congress members like Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.)-who said he has more extensive experience with Internet technologies than many of his committee colleagues-led a swarm of Congress members disputing that Project Texas was the cure-all that Chew claimed.

However, he refused to comment on a whistleblower report from Tech Workers Coalition, where a TikTok content moderator confirmed one of Congress’ worst suspicions: that ByteDance has access to user data that could be used to track and spy on Americans. “American companies don’t have a good track record with data privacy,” Chew reminded the committee while repeatedly telling Congress members that the questions that they had about TikTok reflected industry-wide problems that go well beyond one app.Ĭhew also said that he’s seen “no evidence” that Project Texas-which he said would ensure TikTok data is behind a US firewall and out of China’s reach-doesn’t address Congress’ national security concerns.

Chew said that with Project Texas, TikTok has launched an “unprecedented” effort to be more transparent about its algorithm and data collection than any other Big Tech company. In his testimony, Chew defended TikTok’s $1.5 billion solution to these concerns, Project Texas, as a more appropriate measure than forcing a sale of TikTok from its owner, China-controlled ByteDance, or banning TikTok in the US. Rodgers suggested that even for Americans who have never used the app, “TikTok surveils us all, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is able to use this as a tool to manipulate America as a whole.” “The American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security,” committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wa.) said in her opening statement, concluding that “TikTok is a weapon.”

For nearly five hours, Congress members of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew over concerns about the platform's risks to minor safety, data privacy, and national security for American users.

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