Some of you may have heard the recent news on TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and his first appearance before Congress to address lawmakers who had been calling for a country-wide ban on the app.
During the hearing, senators raised concerns about the security of user data on the TikTok platform, particularly in light of the app’s ties to China. Shou Zi Chew defended TikTok’s practices and emphasized that the company stores US user data in the United States and has established a team of US-based data privacy experts.
The 5 hour hearing produced some truly comical and viral moments and proved how little lawmakers understood social media or the Internet entirely. Despite the 40 year old Singaporean entrepreneur grilled with a ton of unintelligent and dense questions from the committee, we’ve decided to compile and summarise the most ridiculous ones which deserve an honourable mention.
Wifi connections
It was at the moment when North Carolina Republican Rep. Richard Hudson appeared to be finding difficulties understanding the mechanics of Wifi.
In the moment of their conversation, Hudson appeared to have asked Mr Chew ‘does TikTok access the Home Wifi network?’
Mr Chew goes on to respond with “Only if the user turns on the Wifi, I’m sorry, I may not understand the question”
“So if I have the TikTok app on my phone and my phone is on my home Wifi network, does TikTok access that network?” Hudson asked.
It would have to access the network to get connections to the internet, if that’s the question,” Chew added as he sounded a bit confused at the inherently confusing question.
“Is it possible, then, that it could access other devices on that home WiFi network?” Hudson prodded.
“Congressman, we do not do anything that is beyond any industry norms. I believe the answer to your question is no. It could be technical. Let me get back to you.
Dilation of pupils
Republican Georgia Rep, Buddy Carter at one stage proved to be convinced that TikTok was collecting users biometric data, specifically how users eyes dilate while viewing a video and how this could affect one’s algorithm.
“Can you tell me right now, can you say with 100% certainty, that TikTok does not use the phone’s camera to determine whether the content that elicits a pupil dilation should be amplified by the algorithm? Can you tell me that?”
Chew responded by saying that the app does not collect body, face or voice data to identify users, and the only data TikTok collects is when a person uses filters, such as pretending to have sunglasses on their face.
“We need to know where your eyes are,” Chew explained. “Why do you need to know where the eyes are, if you’re not seeing if they are dilated?” said Carter.
Wrong nationality
Republican Dan Crenshaw states that ByteDance and its employees who live in China must cooperate with the Chinese government when they are called upon, adding that “they are bound to secrecy and that would include you”.
The major fact is that Chew is not from China………
“Congressman, first, I’m Singaporean”
Such questions and more have since gone viral on social media where netizens slammed the lawmakers for their silly questions.
