TikTok deflects: What about Facebook?
Chew tried to deflect a number of the privacy concerns lodged against TikTok Thursday with a simple, but hard-to-argue-against retort: At least it’s not as bad as Facebook.
Chew repeatedly framed concerns over harmful content making its way onto platforms as “industry-wide” issues and argued TikTok goes far beyond other American social media companies by working to create a domestic “firewall” to secure US user data. The CEO used a similar line of defense when grilled by lawmakers over TikTok’s employment of some Chinese workers.
“There are many companies that use a global workforce, we are not the only one,” Chew said. That what-aboutism drew consternation from some lawmakers like Massachusetts Rep. Lori Trahan who accused Chew of “ducking behind industry standards and competitors.”
During one of his testier exchanges with Florida Rep. Darren Soto, Chew broke from his more generalized statements and specifically named Facebook.
“American companies don’t have a great track record here,” Chew replied. “Just look at Facebook and Cambridge Analytica.” Ouch.
