2023丨直击 TikTok 听证会，日益收紧的包围圈

Core Viewpoint - TikTok faces significant challenges in the U.S. due to increasing scrutiny from lawmakers and potential legislative actions that could lead to its breakup or ban, reflecting a growing resistance to globalization in a politically charged environment [3][5][6]. Group 1: Hearing Overview - The U.S. Congress held a hearing on TikTok, marking the first time in three years that the company’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, attended to address concerns about data privacy and national security [3][4]. - The hearing lasted nearly five hours, during which Chew struggled to provide detailed answers due to frequent interruptions from lawmakers, highlighting the contentious nature of the inquiry [4][9]. - Lawmakers expressed concerns that TikTok poses a serious threat to American citizens by potentially allowing foreign governments to access sensitive data and influence content [7][8]. Group 2: User Engagement and Growth - TikTok has become deeply embedded in American society, with approximately 150 million monthly users, a threefold increase since 2020, and daily active users exceeding 80 million [5][39]. - Despite its growth, TikTok's penetration rate in the U.S. remains at about 24%, significantly lower than Douyin's (its Chinese counterpart) 54% [42]. Group 3: Legislative Environment - The Biden administration has provided TikTok with two options: either divest its U.S. operations or face a ban, reflecting a bipartisan consensus in Congress regarding the platform's risks [5][38]. - Recent legislative proposals, such as the RESTRICT Act, aim to empower the government to ban foreign applications deemed a threat to national security, with bipartisan support [38]. Group 4: Data Security Measures - TikTok is implementing the "Texas Project," which involves migrating its U.S. operations to Oracle's servers in Texas, aiming to alleviate concerns over data security and foreign access [46][50]. - The project is expected to cost TikTok between $700 million to $1 billion annually, with a focus on establishing a firewall for U.S. user data [46][50]. Group 5: Challenges and Comparisons - TikTok's advertising revenue generation is significantly lower than that of competitors like Facebook, with the platform struggling to monetize its user base effectively [42][43]. - The platform's e-commerce initiatives in the U.S. have been slow to develop, with plans for expansion being postponed due to regulatory pressures and competitive challenges [44][46].