In a recent congressional hearing on online harm to children from social media, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton faced backlash for his line of questioning directed at TikTok CEO Shou Chew. The Singaporean executive, along with representatives from other tech firms like Meta, X, and Snap, testified before lawmakers on issues related to their platforms.
Senator Cotton’s focus on Chew’s nationality and alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party drew criticism from both Singaporeans and observers worldwide. TikTok, operated by the Chinese company ByteDance, has long been under scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers, who express concerns about data security and potential influence by the Chinese government.
During the hearing, Cotton repeatedly questioned Chew about his citizenship, asking if he held citizenship in any other nation and if he had ever applied for Chinese citizenship. Despite Chew affirming his Singaporean nationality, the senator pressed further, asking if he had ever been a member of the Chinese Communist Party or had any affiliation with it.
The Singaporean population, comprising about 75% ethnic Chinese, quickly expressed dissatisfaction with Cotton’s line of questioning, labeling it as ignorant and even racist. Many pointed out the senator’s narrow-minded assumptions about Chew’s background solely based on his Chinese ethnicity. Singaporeans emphasized that ethnic Chinese individuals do not necessarily identify with China as their cultural motherland.
The Washington Post described Cotton’s approach as “McCarthy-esque,” drawing parallels to the infamous McCarthy hearings of the 1950s. Clips of the exchange between Cotton and Chew circulated on social media platforms, drawing tens of thousands of views. An Instagram reel posted by Singapore’s flagship newspaper, The Straits Times, garnered nearly 2,000 comments, with the majority criticizing or mocking Cotton for his approach.
Singaporean citizens expressed a mix of emotions, from initial pride in seeing one of their own appearing before the U.S. Congress to disappointment at what they perceived as the senator’s ignorance. Many found Cotton’s questions not only disrespectful but also reflective of a lack of understanding of Singapore’s diverse cultural landscape.
Amidst the controversy, Cotton utilized Instagram to share a video of an interview he conducted on Fox News, asserting that Chew had much to clarify. The senator further alleged that Singapore ranked among the global locations most significantly infiltrated and influenced by the Chinese Communist Party. Nevertheless, these allegations faced skepticism due to a lack of clear foundations.
Shou Chew, 41, is a native of Singapore, where he resides with his family. Before joining TikTok, he worked for Xiaomi, a Chinese smartphone company, and had a background in venture capital and finance, including a stint at Goldman Sachs.
As the incident continues to spark discussions on social media and beyond, it highlights the challenges faced by global tech executives when navigating complex geopolitical issues and stereotypes based on nationality and ethnicity.
