The legal organization of ByteDance, parent company of the Chinese social network TikTok, includes “a total separation” between the European and Chinese entities, a leader in France of TikTok said on Thursday, in the face of increasing restrictions in the West.
“Regarding the legal organization of the group, there is a total separation” between TikTok in Europe “and other entities operating in China,” Eric Garandeau, director of public affairs for TikTok SAS, told the French Senate commission of inquiry on the ultra popular social network among young people.
influence strategy
The committee of inquiry will hear on Thursday afternoon from Marlène Masure, general manager of operations France, Benelux and Southern Europe at TikTok SAS.
Created at the request of the Les Indépendants group, the Senate investigation commission into the use of the social network, its “data exploitation” and its “influence strategy” should issue its conclusions before Parliament’s summer break.
You have already heard many experts, as well as MEPs Raphaël Glucksmann, president of the special committee on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, or Nathalie Loiseau, president of the “security and defense” subcommittee.
The commission is also scheduled to hear from the Minister in charge of Digital Transition and Telecommunications, Jean-Noël Barrot, on June 19. In the case of a parliamentary commission of inquiry, the persons summoned are heard under oath.
reinforced controls
Citing cybersecurity risks, the French government already banned the download and use of the controversial Chinese social network (among other “recreational” apps) on the work phones of 2.5 million state officials in March, following in the footsteps of many western executives and parliaments.
The EU unveiled in late April a list of 19 very large online platforms, including Twitter, TikTok and major services from Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft, which will be subject to enhanced controls from the end of August. .
Many American elected officials want to ban TikTok in the United States. They claim that the popular platform allows Beijing to collect user data without their knowledge and influence their opinion, which the app has always denied. At the end of March, during a hearing in the US Congress, the head of TikTok, Shou Chew, again claimed that Beijing did not have access to him.
Source: BFM TV
