So how did TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's appearance before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce go today?

Well, it's hard to say – amid the regular smattering of accusations framed as questions, and vague queries that seemed to misunderstand how the internet itself works, Chew mostly seemed to provide carefully worded answers, while fending off anything too difficult by saying that he'd look into it.

In a pivotal hearing that could decide the future of the app in the US, Chew gave a passionate defense of the platform and sought to address US regulatory concerns: the key issue being American user data being shared with the Chinese Government.
Chew was pressed on various aspects, relating to TikTok’s past actions on censorship (i.e. whether it censors content critical of the CCP), its accessing of US user data to track journalists, it’s algorithm, youth safety aspects, and more.

For the most part, Chew was able to sidestep all of these questions without making any final commitments. However, his appearance, according to many accounts, wasn't exactly reassuring or convincing in terms of winning over US senators.

In particular, when pressed for comment on whether ByteDance employees have spied on US citizens in the past, Chew hedged, saying that 'I don't think spying is the right way to describe it'. Chew also challenged American companies' track record of user data, when probed on a possible exit from ByteDance-that is likely to seem at least comparably fair, even if not likely to get a good hearing from American officials.

But the bottom line statement of Chew's appearance was this:

"The bottom line is this – American data is stored on American soil by an American company overseen by American personnel."

This is from Chew's pre-prepared testimony, where Chew said 'Project Texas', TikTok's multi-billion dollar plan to separate US user data from its Chinese parent company, will secure US user data in the US and be completely inaccessible to China-based staff.

TikTok hopes this effort will suffice to assure US regulators that American users are safe.

But then again, when cornered on another key point that whether TikTok would ever sell the user data, Chew declined to commit to a firm response and only said that he would find out before giving a final answer.

At the end of this, it still remains hard to pinpoint where TikTok is placed, in terms of the possibility of a full ban in the US. Worse still, the Chinese Government has once again shared its opposition to the forced sell-off of the app, meaning that if TikTok is banned by the US Government, a sell-off into local hands may not be an option.

Which, once again, underlines the fact that TikTok's future is hinged on how US politicians perceive Chew's testimony.
Was he convincing enough in his explanations? Has TikTok done enough to assure policymakers of its intentions? Will Project Texas be enough to demonstrate separation of access within parent company ByteDance?

Really, the next steps are likely out of Chew's hands either way, as it still feels like the rising tensions between the US and China will be the key determinate. Last month's spy balloon incident raised the hackles of those concerned about Chinese interference, weighing further against TikTok, while this week's meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin has further stoked concerns.

It seems as though TikTok is somewhat sandwiched in the middle of an issue that is far larger and more complex than just two nations disagreeing, and another incident like this might be the one that ends up making or breaking TikTok in the US.

Any further indication that there is China defiance, especially against America can force a reaction from the White House, so whilst he may be doing all within his purview Chew was perhaps operating within far more broader constructs.