Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
The Chinese-owned social media app TikTok confirmed Monday that it will not send a representative to testify before a Senate panel slated to examine the tech industry’s ties to the Chinese government.
Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary hearing will be chaired by one of the right’s most prominent tech hawks, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), and will focus on how Big Tech companies “leave our data exposed to criminals, China, and other bad actors.” In a tweet on Sunday, Hawley said that he invited Apple and TikTok to testify, and claimed that both companies declined the committee’s offer.
“I’ve invited Apple and TikTok to testify on Tuesday about their business in & with China and the risks to American consumers. So far, they are both refusing,” Hawley…