TikTok has acknowledged storing sensitive information about American creators in China, raising concerns about data security.
Bipartisan Senate leaders question TikTok CEO's "incorrect claims" regarding data storage, highlighting discrepancies between testimony and Forbes investigation.
The investigation reveals TikTok's storage of financial data for top American and European creators on servers located in China, contradicting earlier claims.
Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn demand explanations from TikTok following revelations of data storage practices.
TikTok differentiates between user data collected through the app and information provided by creators for payment, without explicitly stating where the latter is stored.
Internal documents obtained by Forbes suggest that creators' tax forms and personal information are stored in China, managed by TikTok's parent company ByteDance.
TikTok defends its statements to Congress, clarifying that their focus was on protected user data within the app, not creator data.
The company claims certain categories of creator data are exceptions, negotiated with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to continue operations.
Senate leaders express concerns about Americans' personal data being exposed to the Chinese government and call for investigations into TikTok's data practices and potential perjury.