Tom Cotton Criticized for Questioning TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew
- Sen. Tom Cotton is facing criticism after questioning TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about his citizenship and any associations with the Chinese Communist Party during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on child safety online. The CEO, who is from Singapore, repeatedly denied any affiliations with the party.
- A significant part of the questioning revolved around the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, to which Chew acknowledged the events as a “massacre”. Cotton’s questions were deemed by some social media users and organizations as “racist” and “Sinophobic”, but Cotton defended his stance, claiming it’s reasonable to question if Chew is subject to the Chinese Communist Party’s influence like his company supposedly is.
- The hearing also saw the CEOs of Meta, X, Discord, and Snap being questioned about their companies’ positions on legislation aimed at tackling teen content moderation and the sale of illicit drugs on their platforms. One notable moment included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally apologizing to families who believe social media contributed to their children’s suicides.
Sen. Tom Cotton Criticized for Grilling TikTok CEO
Sen. Tom Cotton came under fire for extensively questioning TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about his citizenship and potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party at a charged Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, which was dedicated to child safety online.
Chew, who hails from Singapore and testified alongside the CEOs of Meta, X, Discord, and Snap, vehemently denied any affiliation with the party. The exchange, which sparked allegations of racism, was widely shared online.
The senator further queried Chew about the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, to which Chew affirmed there was a massacre. The incident sparked immediate reaction on social media, with users labeling Cotton’s questions as “disgraceful” and “deeply racist.”
Journalist and digital media consultant Heidi Moore and political action committee AAPI Victory Fund were among those who voiced their criticism.
Cotton defended his line of questioning on Fox News, asserting it was reasonable to inquire about potential influence by the Chinese Communist Party.
Known for his firm stance on issues such as immigration and support for former President Donald Trump’s border policies, Cotton and his fellow lawmakers grilled the CEOs on contentious issues like teen content moderation and illicit drug sales on their platforms.
In a poignant moment, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized to families who claimed social media had a role in their children’s suicides.
Chew previously faced senators at a March hearing highlighting TikTok’s data use and child safety measures.
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