TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to present new internal data to Congress on Thursday during a hearing before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
According to a senior Democratic strategist advising TikTok, the data shows that the number of regular users in the United States has increased from 100 million to 150 million, a 50% increase. Chew will also discuss how the app has become even more deeply rooted in Americans’ daily lives over the last three years.
Despite the app’s popularity, lawmakers and the White House have expressed concerns about TikTok’s Chinese ownership and the potential national security risk it poses. Some lawmakers believe that TikTok could allow Beijing to manipulate public opinion in the United States or gain access to Americans’ data for spying purposes.
President Joe Biden has already signed legislation that prohibits the use of TikTok on US government devices. The Justice Department and the FBI are also investigating claims that the app spied on journalists. Moreover, Biden has endorsed a bipartisan bill that could prevent TikTok from operating in the United States, and his administration has directed TikTok’s Chinese owners to sell their holdings in the company.
TikTok’s upcoming appearance before Congress will be the company’s most high-profile encounter with lawmakers to date. The app intends to use its user base, or “creators,” to fight any attempts to ban the app and address concerns about potential national security issues.
The sources for this piece include an article in NBCNews.