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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew appears before Congress: The key moments and why the Internet is loving him

Image Credit: depositphotos.com/Daniel.Constante

TikTok, the popular social media platform, has been a topic of controversy for quite some time now due to concerns about data privacy and security. Recently, the CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, was in the news for his appearance before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to discuss issues related to child safety, data privacy, and the company’s algorithms. Despite facing tough questions, Shou Zi Chew handled the hearing with grace and professionalism, which earned him a lot of respect and admiration from people around the world.

Shou Zi Chew’s appearance before the House Committee

Shou Zi Chew, who was appointed as the CEO of TikTok in March 2021, was called upon to testify before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on Thursday, March 23rd, 2023. During the hearing, he faced tough questions from lawmakers, who were concerned about the company’s data privacy policies, its handling of user data, and its content moderation practices.

Lawmakers wanted to know how TikTok handles the data of its US users, especially with regards to data privacy laws in the US. They also raised concerns about the platform’s content moderation practices and its potential to spread misinformation and extremist content. Shou Zi Chew assured the lawmakers that TikTok is committed to protecting its users’ privacy and ensuring that the platform is safe for everyone. He emphasized that the company has implemented several measures to ensure data privacy and security, such as data encryption and two-factor authentication.

Here are some key points from the hearing.

  • Legislators were united against TikTok: During the hearing, both Republicans and Democrats expressed their concerns and scepticism about TikTok. Despite this, Chew defended the company’s practices and stated that TikTok takes the safety and privacy of its users seriously and is committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations.
  • ByteDance engineers in China have access to some US data: Chew confirmed that engineers at TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, do have access to some US data. He mentioned “Project Texas”, a proposal to store all data in the US under the watch of American Firm Oracle.
  • Chew has shares in ByteDance: However, during the hearing, Chew tried to distance TikTok from its parent company, ByteDance.
  • TikTok’s relationship to China under fire: Many members of the committee focused on ByteDance and its executives, who lawmakers say have ties to the Chinese Communist party. They questioned whether the company’s proposed solution, called Project Texas, would offer sufficient protection against Chinese laws that require companies to make user data accessible to the government.
  • Concerns about the viability of ‘Project Texas’: a proposal by TikTok to address concerns about Chinese influence on the company. The project involves relocating all US user data to domestic servers in the United States, under the watch of American Firm Oracle. This is intended to provide greater protection for user data and alleviate concerns about the Chinese government’s access to this information.

Shou Zi Chew’s career journey

Shou Zi Chew’s career journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. A Harvard Business School graduate, Chew began his career as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs before moving on to DST Global, a global investment firm focused on internet and software investments. At DST Global, Chew worked closely with Yuri Milner, a well-known Silicon Valley investor, and became involved in several high-profile deals, including investments in Facebook, Airbnb, and Alibaba.

In 2015, Chew joined Xiaomi, a Chinese electronics company, where he served as the company’s CFO and helped oversee its initial public offering. He later moved on to become the President of International at the company, responsible for leading Xiaomi’s expansion outside of China. In 2021, Chew was appointed CEO of TikTok, taking over from Kevin Mayer, who resigned from the position after just three months.

While studying at Harvard Business School, Chew completed a summer internship at Facebook prior to its IPO. This experience likely gave him valuable insights into the inner workings of a successful tech startup and helped prepare him for his future roles at Xiaomi and TikTok.

The Internet’s love for Shou Zi Chew

Despite facing tough questions during the hearing, Shou Zi Chew has become a viral sensation on the internet. The CEO’s calm and composed demeanour during the hearing impressed many people, who took to social media to praise him.

The internet has been abuzz with positive comments about Shou Zi Chew, with many people praising his professionalism and dedication to his job, his handling of the questions and his commitment to data privacy and security.

Some even went as far as to say that he was a breath of fresh air in the tech industry, where CEOs are often criticized for their lack of transparency and accountability. Chew as also been compared to other tech CEOs, such as Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey, with comments suggesting he is a better representative of the tech industry.

Wall Street’s reaction to Shou Zi Chew’s performance

Despite the positive reception Shou Zi Chew received on the internet, Wall Street analysts had a different take on his performance at the hearing. They believed that he had a “disaster day” in Congress, as he was grilled on issues related to child safety, data privacy, and content moderation.

However, the internet was quick to defend Shou Zi Chew and commended him for his composure and professionalism during the hearing. Many people pointed out that it was not an easy task to answer tough questions in front of a panel of lawmakers, and Shou Zi Chew had handled it with grace and ease.

Conclusion

Shou Zi Chew’s appearance before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce put TikTok under the spotlight once again. Despite facing tough questions, the CEO handled them well and showed his commitment to data privacy and security. His professionalism and dedication to his job have earned him respect and admiration from people around the world, and he has become a viral sensation on the internet.

Overall, Shou Zi Chew’s appearance before Congress and his growing popularity on social media have helped to cement his reputation as an invaluable asset to the tech industry as a whole. It remains to be seen how TikTok will fare in the coming years, but with a CEO like Shou Zi Chew at the helm, public opinion seems to be that the platform is in good hands.

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