Congressman says TikTok backed out of a meeting to avoid child safety questions

The chair of the House Select Committee on China has announced that TikTok withdrew from a scheduled public roundtable this month. According to the committee, the platform pulled out due to concerns regarding potential inquiries into its child safety practices. Lawmakers had been negotiating in good faith to have TikTok’s chief security officer testify before the committee to address broader concerns, including potential Chinese government access to user data. The cancellation highlights the ongoing tension between TikTok and U.S. regulators, who remain deeply skeptical of the platform's data security protocols and its impact on younger users. While TikTok has consistently denied allegations of foreign influence, this latest development adds to the mounting pressure from Congress, which continues to scrutinize the app's operational transparency and its commitment to protecting minors on the platform.