Representative Buddy Carter was joined by other Republican lawmakers in denouncing TikTok, alleging in a letter that the platform is not combating the spread of terrorist propaganda on its platform. The lawmakers express particular concern about the use of the hashtag #freepalestine, which garnered 946 million views within a 30-day timeframe, and what they see as a troubling amount of content glorifying Osama Bin Laden.
Representative Buddy Carter did not mince words when addressing this issue on social media. In a post to X, Carter stated: “TikTok is a haven for pro-Hamas propaganda and antisemitism. Look no further than the recent trend sympathetic to Bin Laden for proof. I sent a letter with @cathymcmorris and 23 of my colleagues demanding TikTok take action to combat these dangerous trends and misinformation.”
According to details provided in their official statement, lawmakers have posed specific questions to TikTok’s CEO. According to the letter posted to the press release, the lawmakers demand answers to thirteen questions from the TikTok CEO. The questions focus on how the Chinese Communist Party utilizes user data, how they are protecting young adults from viewing content glorifying terrorism and antisemitism, bots on the platform, and what steps TikTok is currently taking to address posts about the October 7th terrorists attacks on Israel.
The controversial topic is amplified by recent findings from a reputable polling firm. According to the letter posted to the press release, a Harvard/Harris poll found that 51 percent of those polled between 18 to 24 believe Hamas was justified in its attack on October 7.
This information gains significance considering TikTok’s primary user demographic. According to the letter posted to the press release, roughly half of TikTok’s U.S. user base is under 25 years old.
In addition to terrorist propaganda, lawmakers are also focusing on privacy concerns regarding the app. According to the letter posted to the press release, lawyers renewed their concerns from earlier this year about privacy breaches, surveillance through TikTok, and employee connections to the Chinese Communist Party.
The position of these lawmakers holds weight due to their status and role within governmental circles. According to Ballotpedia, Buddy Carter, a Republican, has represented Georgia’s 1st Congressional District since 2015. He’s now seeking re-election in the upcoming Republican primary for another term.
