U.S. Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH), Buddy Carter (R-GA), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) recently led 22 of their Republican colleagues in raising “deep concerns” over the rise of terrorist and antisemitic content on TikTok following the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.
“Since this terrorist attack, disinformation related to the conflict has run rampant on your platform, stoking antisemitism, support, and sympathy for Hamas,” the lawmakers wrote in a Nov. 20 letter sent to TikTok CEO Shou Chew.
Rep. Carter, Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Latta, and their colleagues pointed out that TikTok’s connection to parent company ByteDance, which is headquartered in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), raises significant national security concerns, according to their letter.
And while Chew earlier this year testified to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee that the PRC did not have control over TikTok, former employees have reported that the PRC has access to American user data and is closely involved in decision making and product development, they wrote.
“In your own testimony, you stated that you are in regular communication with Liang Rubo, the CEO of ByteDance,” wrote the lawmakers. “This control, alongside troubling reports of privacy and data security breaches, such as monitoring American journalists’ locations, proves that the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] is using TikTok as a surveillance and manipulation tool.”
Additionally, they wrote, many younger Americans are turning to TikTok rather than search engines and other verifiable sources for their news. “You have led these generations to believe that TikTok is an “unfiltered” news source,” wrote the members.
They added that TikTok’s “deluge of pro-terrorist content” is driving hateful antisemitic rhetoric and violent protests on campuses across the country.
“The CCP has already co-opted your platform, and it seems TikTok and TikTok’s employees are resigned to becoming a mouthpiece for antisemites, terrorists, and propaganda,” according to the letter, which was also signed by members including U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH), John Joyce (R-PA), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Bill Johnson (R-OH), August Pfluger (R-TX), and John Curtis (R-UT).
The GOP lawmakers requested that Chew answer several questions, including whether the PRC has any involvement or ability to censor or amplify content on TikTok; what steps the company is taking to increase transparency about its data practices and content moderation policies; if TikTok’s algorithm amplified content and sentiments calling for the elimination of the Jewish State; what TikTok is doing to counter the creation of bots worldwide that are intentionally interacting with pro-Hamas content; and how TikTok age-restricts certain content, among others.