In a hearing with TikTok's CEO, lawmakers urge for a ban of the app.

Shou Zi Chew, the Chief Executive Officer of TikTok, gave testimony in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee at Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. on March 23, 2023. A picture of the event was taken by Jim Watson and released through the press agency AFP.

On Thursday, in front of lawmakers who were strongly pushing for a ban on the popular video sharing app TikTok due to national security concerns, the CEO of the company, Shou Zi Chew, defended its safety.

The White House and congressional critics of TikTok are concerned about the app's potential risk to the privacy and security of its 150 million users in the United States. The concern arises due to ByteDance, a Chinese company, being the owner of TikTok.

The main idea: The Energy and Commerce Committee of the House expressed their views on TikTok, stating that it poses a threat to national security and is a risky social media platform. Representative Tony Cárdenas (D-Ca.) went as far as to mention serious concerns regarding the app that could potentially be life-threatening.

Following the hearing, Brook Oberwetter, a TikTok representative, made a statement expressing disappointment in the Congress members' focus on political posturing instead of acknowledging the existing practical solutions. Despite the preparation by Shou, the hearing seemed to be more concerned with politics instead of addressing the issue at hand.

During the proceeding, representatives expressed their endorsement of completely prohibiting the application in the United States.

During his initial statements, Chew contended that Bytedance is a privately owned corporation bound by the interests of its shareholders and board, rather than the Chinese government. When questioned on whether TikTok is a Chinese entity, he consistently portrayed it as a worldwide establishment.

Politicians questioned Chew on the identical predicaments that affect all social media networks, such as confidentiality, influence on the psychological well-being of minors, and dependency.

Politicians observed concerning viral movements on TikTok that have been linked to the loss of life for younger individuals. These include the "blackout" choking challenge and material that some argue may inspire individuals to attempt suicide.

Just before Chew's inaugural congressional testimony, the Biden government expressed their preference for the sale or spin-off of TikTok rather than a possible prohibition of the app.

Get up to speed fast: The future of TikTok in the United States has been uncertain ever since the previous president, Donald Trump, attempted to compel its divestiture in 2020.

This article has been revised with more recent occurrences and contextual information.