Blackburn’s bipartisan request of TikTok CEO aims to answer security concerns

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) called into question the independence of TikTok’s operations and the security of its U.S. users’ information since the short-form video hosting service hired several high-level executives from its China-based parent company, ByteDance.

“The relationship between ByteDance and TikTok poses a unique risk to the security and privacy of TikTok’s users in the United States,” Sen. Blackburn and a colleague wrote in an Oct. 3 letter sent to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. “TikTok executives, including personnel based in China, have been found spying on American journalists.”

Sen. Blackburn and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) pointed out that the intelligence community has repeatedly warned that Chinese national security laws provide the Chinese government significant legal control over any data within the reach of Chinese companies, thereby putting any data held by ByteDance in the reach of the Chinese government.

“In response to these widespread concerns, TikTok has repeatedly made commitments and representations to the American public about the independent management of TikTok’s operations, the limited role of ByteDance, and the security of U.S. users’ information. You have attempted to distance TikTok from ByteDance and promised a separation,” they wrote. “However, the recent move of many ByteDance executives to the U.S. seemingly undermines this assertion to Congress and the public.”

The senators requested that the TikTok CEO answer several questions by Oct. 13, including the number of employees hired by TikTok who previously worked at ByteDance, and what security protocols are being imposed on ByteDance employees that transfer from China to the U.S.

“Once again, TikTok’s actions appear to align with a pattern of misleading actions and broken commitments regarding serious matters related to users’ safety and national security,” wrote Sen. Blackburn and her colleague.