Singaporeans bemoan U.S. Senator's 'ignorant' grilling of TikTok CEO
After a U.S. senator grilled Singaporean TikTok CEO about his nationality and affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party, Singaporeans are complaining about ignorant — or even racist — views of their country
SINGAPORE (AP) — After a U.S. senator grilled Singaporean TikTok CEO about his nationality and affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party, Singaporeans are complaining about ignorant — or even racist — views of their country.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew, along with executives from technology firms such as Meta, X and Snap, testified before U.S. lawmakers on the online harms of social media to children on Wednesday.
During the hearing, Chew was repeatedly questioned about his nationality and possible affiliations to the Chinese Communist Party by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.
TikTok, which is operated by Chinese firm ByteDance, has over 150 million users in America. U.S. lawmakers have regarded TikTok with considerable suspicion over whether its data can be accessed by the Chinese government, as well as whether the app can be used to expand China’s influence. Chinese companies are required to set up Communist Party cells.
