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TikTok CEO Will Urge Against Ban, Say It Has Solutions to Data Concerns

Testifying before Congress, Shou Chew will try to convince lawmakers that TikTok can safeguard US data.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew will try to convince Congress that TikTok can protect US users’ data and maintain safety for the millions of Americans who use the popular video app, according to prepared remarks shared Wednesday by the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce. 

Chew is scheduled to testify before the committee on Thursday about TikTok’s privacy and data security practices. Lawmakers are scrutinizing TikTok, and the app faces a possible ban in the US. Earlier this month, the Biden administration demanded that ByteDance, the app’s Chinese parent company, sell its stake in the app. 

Officials are concerned US user data could be passed on to the Chinese government or that the Chinese government could dictate what content is shown on TikTok in a bid to influence public opinion in the US.

Chew will argue that ByteDance isn’t an agent of China, but instead that it’s a global company that won’t allow unauthorized access to user data. 

«TikTok has never shared, or received a request to share, U.S. user data with the Chinese government,» Chew will say, according to the prepared remarks. «Nor would TikTok honor such a request if one were ever made.»

Chew will also argue that instead of a ban, there are alternatives that could address US officials’ concerns, primarily a $1.5 billion effort to secure data, which TikTok has dubbed Project Texas. 

«Our commitment under Project Texas is for the data of all Americans to be stored in America, hosted by an American headquartered company,» Chew will tell lawmakers, with access to the data controlled by a special TikTok subsidiary called US Data Security Inc., or USDS.

Chew will also discuss the platform’s commitment to protecting minors who use the platform. He’ll highlight examples, including how TikTok accounts registered to teens under 16 are prevented from sending direct messages and are automatically set to private.

«These measures go far beyond what any of our peers do,» Chew says in the prepared remarks.

On Tuesday, Chew turned directly to TikTok users to bolster support, announcing that the app has 150 million users in America. He said in a TikTok video that «some politicians have started talking about banning TikTok,» which would «take away TikTok from all 150 million of you.»

He asked people to share in comments what they want representatives to know about TikTok and why they love the app. The video has more than 6 million views. 

Technologies

Give the Gift of Great Sound With Sennheiser Headphones at a 60% Black Friday Discount

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones are now down to a record low price of $179 this Black Friday.

Spending this Black Friday shopping for a holiday gift for an audiophile? With tons of items on sale, there are plenty to chose from. Sennheiser is behind some of the best wireless headphones you can buy, but its headphones can be prohibitively costly.

But for two days only, Woot is running a Black Friday deal that brings the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones down to $179 from the original $450 price. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones are for audiophiles who want great quality and comfort. You have to be quick, as this deal ends on Nov. 30, or sooner if supplies run out.

Sennheiser Signature Sound gives you rich, balanced audio, and the companion Smart Control app lets you fine-tune the sound to your liking. Adaptive noise cancellation keeps outside distractions at bay, making these headphones great for work, commuting or just zoning out at home. The battery lasts up to 60 hours at moderate volume, and the voice-calling quality is solid, so you can rely on them for everyday use.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

If this style of headphones isn’t your cup of tea, then maybe a pair of the best wireless earbuds will be better suited to your needs. If you’re shopping on a budget, check out our roundups of the best gifts under $100, $50 and $25 to see more great gift-giving ideas.

Why this deal matters

This deal surely won’t last. Sennheiser has made a name for itself as one of the best in the audio business, and that’s clear with the Momentum 4 wireless headphones. They offer adaptive noise cancellation, a Bluetooth connection and up to 60 hours of playback. When it comes to comfort and quality, it doesn’t get much better, especially with a discount like this.

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Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 Is Now Just $250 in Multiple Black Friday Sales

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is an even better value with this $100 discount.

The holiday season is here, and while your fitness goals might not be at the front of your mind right now, January is just around the corner. That means resolutions are upon us, so what better time than now to pick up a new smartwatch? You can get your hands on a new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 while it’s available for a huge $100 off for Black Friday.

Amazon and Best Buy are both selling the Galaxy Watch 8 at the same $250 price. We can’t promise either deal will be around for long.

Samsung’s latest smartwatch packs serious hardware upgrades over it predecessor. It has a vibrant 46mm AMOLED display that shines up to 3,000 nits, along with 2GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, built-in GPS and advanced fitness tools, including sleep coaching and vascular load monitoring. It’s waterproof up to 50 meters and lasts up to 30 hours on a single charge.

CNET expert Vanessa Hand Orellana praised its refined design, detailed health insights and Gemini AI support, noting that it «has nearly every feature I could hope for.» Just remember, some tools work best when paired with the Samsung Galaxy phone.

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Why this deal matters

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 packs serious upgrades for the price. With advanced fitness tools, sleep coaching and daily energy tracking, it’s one of the most feature‑rich smartwatches this year. The $250 price represents a new low for the model and includes a 90-day warranty. But with limited stock, it’s a deal worth grabbing quickly.

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The Black Friday Gaming Deals Are Here. Shop Now and Save Big on PlayStation, Xbox and Alienware

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