TikTok CEO to testify before Congress about app's relationship with the Chinese Communist Party

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee about the video platform's relationship with the Chinese Communist Party as well as its privacy and data practices, the committee's chairman announced Monday.

"ByteDance-owned TikTok has knowingly allowed the ability for the Chinese Communist Party to access American user data," said Chairwoman Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers. "Americans deserve to know how these actions impact their privacy and data security, as well as what actions TikTok is taking to keep our kids safe from online and offline harms."

Americans have become increasingly concerned that ByteDance is sharing data from U.S. customers with the communist party, and federal and state leaders have responded with efforts to remove the app from government-issued electronic devices. 

During what will be his first congressional committee appearance, Chew will testify March 23 about "TikTok’s consumer privacy and data security practices, the platforms’ impact on kids, and their relationship with the Chinese Communist Party," the committee also said.

Members of Congress in December introduced bipartisan legislation to ban the platform over espionage concerns. The app is already banned or restricted on government devices in at least 18 states.