House Republicans Seek Answers About Hamas Amplification on TikTok
TikTok is becoming a “mouthpiece” for antisemitic and terrorist propaganda under the influence of the Chinese government, House Republicans wrote the platform's CEO Shou Zi Chew Tuesday. House Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., led the effort with House…
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Communications Subcommittee Chairman Buddy Carter, R-Ga, and more than a dozen members. They cited statistics showing American users in the 18-24 age range are engaging widely with content backing Hamas following its Oct. 7 attack on Israel. According to TikTok statistics, the “hashtag ‘#freepalestine’ received 946 million views in the last 30 days, while ‘#standwithIsrael’ received only 55 million,” they wrote. They’re seeking answers about influence from Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance and tools used to amplify content. “Since this terrorist attack, disinformation related to the conflict has run rampant on your platform, stoking antisemitism, support, and sympathy for Hamas,” they wrote. TikTok didn't comment.