TikTok’s US security chief leaves company amid app ban
Popular video-sharing app TikTok said Tuesday that its U.S. director of trust and security, Eric Han, is leaving the company amid a growing ban on the Chinese app in the country.
US technology website The Verge was the first to report the development, citing an internal employee memo.
The news comes as TikTok faces calls from US lawmakers to ban the popular short-form video app in the country over concerns about its Chinese ownership and the protection of US user data.
Eric Han, TikTok’s head of US information security trust and security, is set to leave the company on May 12 after serving in the role since 2019, according to The Verge.
According to the report, Han played a crucial role in political decisions aimed at reducing the spread of dangerous challenges and political positions paid by influencers.
Andy Bonillo, TikTok’s interim chief security officer for the US, will fill the role on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found.
Earlier in March, TikTok confirmed that federal authorities required the app’s Chinese owners to sell their stake in the social media platform or face a US ban.
Last month, Montana lawmakers passed a law banning TikTok on personal devices, making it the first state to do so if the governor signs the bill, CNN reported.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew testified before Congress in March, trying to reassure lawmakers about the app’s security and the privacy of US users. TikTok did not give a reason for Han’s departure.
Read all the Latest Tech News here.
