TikTok U.S. Chief Security Officer Will Farrell is scheduled to testify before the U.S. House Select Committee on China on September 15, giving lawmakers an opportunity to question the company about Chinese involvement in the short-video platform.
Farrell, who oversees data privacy and cybersecurity, will become the 1st TikTok U.S. executive to testify publicly before the U.S. House since ByteDance completed a deal in January to separate the U.S. business from its global operations. ByteDance continues to hold a 19.9% stake in the U.S. entity and has shared limited details about the agreement. Lawmakers are also expected to seek clarification on U.S. President Donald Trump’s role in facilitating the deal.
A spokesperson for TikTok U.S. did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The hearing follows a 2024 law that required ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban. U.S. lawmakers had raised concerns that the company’s management could be influenced by the Chinese government, creating potential national security risks.
Under the agreement, control of TikTok’s U.S. operations shifted this year to an American-owned joint venture called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. The venture is managed by 3 investors: Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX.
House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar had previously stated that the leadership of the joint venture would appear before Congress for a public hearing in 2026. However, a spokesperson for Moolenaar declined to comment on Farrell’s upcoming testimony. TikTok U.S. CEO Adam Presser is not expected to appear before the committee on September 15.
Separately, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley invited TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in May to testify alongside other social media executives on children’s online safety. A hearing date for that session has not yet been announced.
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