Congressman says TikTok backed out of a meeting to avoid child safety questions
TikTok has withdrawn from a scheduled congressional roundtable, citing concerns that the committee would pivot to questioning the company about child safety practices. Lawmakers expressed frustration, noting that the meeting was intended to address data security and foreign influence.
Why it matters
The standoff underscores the intensifying regulatory pressure on social media platforms regarding both national security and the protection of minors.
TikTok backed out of a congressional committee’s “public roundtable” set for this month over concerns it would be asked about child safety practices, the chair of the committee said.
After negotiating “in good faith” to bring TikTok’s chief security officer before the House Select Committee on China to answer questions about Chinese government access to Americans’ data and the TikTok algorithm, Chair John Moolenaar (R-MI) said in a statement Thursday that the company reversed course. “Now, TikTok is refusing to appear citing its own desire to avoid broader scrutiny of its child safety practices,” Moolenaar wrote. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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