House Republicans allege TikTok provided 'untrue or misleading' info to Congress, demand explanation

House Republicans Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and James Comer are requesting that TikTok's top executive provide them with more information about business practices including data sharing – following a recent Capitol Hill briefing in which they say some of the info provided to them "appears to untrue or misleading." 

The request follows a request of documents in mid July to which TikTok responded and the Sept. 7 bipartisan staff briefing, according to the letter sent Tuesday to the executive, Shou Zi Chew.

"We still have unanswered questions, and you failed to provide responsive documents requested by the committee," the letter also states. "Additionally, some of the information TikTok provided during the staff briefing appears to be untrue or misleading, including that TikTok does not track U.S. user locations. As such, we renew our request for documents and information."

U.S. officials have for years raised concerns about the owner of TikTok, ByteDance Ltd., headquarter in Beijing, collecting data from U.S. users and storing it in China. 

The letter also asked that TikTok to provide drafts between the company and the Biden administration negotiating for TikTok to remain active in the United States. 

FBI Director Christopher Wray has recently expressed concerns regarding the social media app, saying the agency had a "number of concerns" about the app. 

"They include the possibility that the Chinese government could use it to control data collection on millions of users or control the recommendation algorithm, which could be used for influence operations if they so chose, or to control software on millions of devices, which gives it an opportunity to potentially technically compromise personal devices," Wray said last week, according to NPR.

When Republicans take control of the House next year, they plan to further investigate TikTok and its alleged data sharing.