The controversy surrounding the popular social media app TikTok continues to grow as GOP lawmakers in the United States renew their calls for a ban. The latest outrage comes after a viral trend on the app saw users sympathize with Usama bin Laden’s infamous 9/11 letter.
The letter, originally published by The Guardian but subsequently taken offline, blamed U.S. policies for the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. It resurfaced on TikTok, sparking a wave of sympathy and even claims that bin Laden was right. Some users expressed that the letter had changed their worldview.
In response, Republican senators such as Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton have strongly condemned TikTok and called for it to be banned. They argue that the app, which is owned by a Chinese company, poses a threat to national security. They claim that TikTok tracks users’ activities, including their location, messages, and emails, and that this information is accessible to the Chinese Communist Party.
Other lawmakers, such as Representative Mike Gallagher, have labeled the app toxic and criticized its role in spreading terrorist propaganda. They warn that the app’s Chinese ownership could allow the Chinese Communist Party to control the dominant media platform in the United States, potentially spreading dangerous ideologies.
The sympathizers of bin Laden’s letter on TikTok have faced backlash, with their videos being removed and some users being banned from the app. However, the trend has already gained significant traction, with millions of views on both TikTok and other social media platforms.
TikTok spokespersons have stated that content promoting terrorism violates the platform’s rules and that the company is taking proactive measures to remove such content and investigate how it appeared on the platform. They also argue that the number of videos related to the trend is small and that reports of it trending on TikTok are inaccurate.
The calls to ban TikTok are not entirely new. Montana is the only state that has passed legislation banning the app from personal devices, while more than 30 states have banned it from state-issued devices. Bipartisan efforts have also been made at the federal level to address concerns about communication technologies developed by foreign adversaries.
The controversy surrounding TikTok highlights the ongoing concerns about the app’s security risks and potential influence on young users. While the sympathy towards bin Laden’s letter on TikTok has caused alarm, it also underscores the importance of promoting open and peaceful conversations to ensure a well-informed citizenry.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen what actions will be taken regarding TikTok and whether other countries will follow suit. As for now, the app’s future remains uncertain, and the tensions surrounding it are unlikely to dissipate anytime soon.
