Findlay Times

Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5), along with Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA1) and Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA5), has sent a letter to TikTok CEO Shou Chew, calling for immediate action to address the platform's dissemination of terrorist propaganda and antisemitic content in the wake of Hamas' attack on Israel.

The letter, which was signed by 25 members, highlights the alarming trend of videos on TikTok with the hashtag #freepalestine receiving a staggering 946 million views within a 30-day period. Disturbingly, more than half of these views came from young adults aged 18-24. Additionally, a concerning trend emerged glorifying Osama Bin Laden and the September 11, 2001, attacks on Americans, further demonstrating the platform's influence over young users.

In the letter, the members expressed their concerns, stating, "Since the terrorist attack by the Palestinian organization Hamas on October 7, disinformation related to the conflict has spread widely on your platform, fueling antisemitism and garnering support and sympathy for Hamas. Many younger generations are turning to TikTok as their primary news source, rather than relying on search engines and verified news outlets, leading them to believe that TikTok provides an 'unfiltered' news source."

The letter further accuses TikTok of facilitating a deluge of pro-terrorist content, which is driving hateful antisemitic rhetoric and violent protests on campuses across the country. It asserts that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has already co-opted the platform, and TikTok and its employees seem to have become a mouthpiece for antisemites, terrorists, and propaganda.

The letter was signed by several other representatives, including Troy Balderson (R-OH), John Joyce (R-PA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Rick W. Allen (R-GA), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Greg Pence (R-IN), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Randy K. Weber (R-TX), Russ Fulcher (R-ID), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA), Bill Johnson (R-OH), Neal P. Dunn, M.D. (R-FL), August Pfluger (R-TX), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), and John Curtis (R-UT).

This letter serves as a strong call to action, demanding that TikTok take immediate steps to combat the spread of terrorist propaganda and antisemitism on its platform. The members of Congress are urging TikTok to recognize the significant impact it has on young users and the responsibility it carries to ensure the dissemination of accurate and unbiased information.

The full text of the letter can be accessed here.

To find out more, go to this link: https://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=404186