Is Interrogating TikTok Even About TikTok? | Reports

Was the brutal interrogation of TikTok execs by the US Congress really about TikTok? Or was sinophobia at play? After 4.5 hours of questioning, TikTok's Singaporean CEO, Shou Zi Chew, has become an unlikely hero to Gen Z audiences.

While Congress raised concerns about foreign entities exploiting social media platforms for political and strategic gain, they really seemed focused on sharing their own tough stances on China. TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is being considered a national security threat because of the app’s potential to collect and share user data with the Chinese government.

While lawmakers are known to be tough on tech CEOs, this questioning process seemed more than relentless–almost Sinophobic. Sinophobia, a prejudice and hostility towards China, its people, and its culture, has been on the rise in recent years–especially amid geopolitical tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a 2022 PEW Research study, among the U.S. public overall, around eight-in-ten express an unfavorable opinion of China.

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Christina Cheung

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