TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, has been accused of censoring videos that criticize China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims, after it removed a hashtag related to Osama bin Laden’s letter to America.
What is the letter to America?
The letter to America is a document that was allegedly written by Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, in 2002, to justify the 9/11 attacks and call for a global jihad against the US and its allies. The letter first appeared on the internet in Arabic and was later translated and circulated by Islamists in Britain.
The letter lists several grievances that bin Laden claims to have against the US, such as its support for Israel, its invasion of Muslim lands, its exploitation of natural resources, its oppression of women and minorities, and its promotion of democracy and secularism. The letter also urges Americans to convert to Islam and abandon their “misguided” way of life.
How did TikTok remove the hashtag?
The hashtag #lettertoamerica was used by some TikTok users to create videos about the letter, either to mock it, to analyze it, or to express sympathy with it. Some of the videos went viral on the platform and were reuploaded to other social media sites, such as X2
However, TikTok soon removed the hashtag from its search function, making it impossible for users to find the videos. The app also deleted some of the videos and suspended some of the accounts that posted them, citing violations of its community guidelines.
TikTok said that the content “clearly violates” its rules on “supporting any form of terrorism” and that it does not tolerate any content that promotes violence, hate, or extremism.
What was the reaction of the users?
Many users were outraged by TikTok’s actions, accusing the app of censoring views that went against the Chinese Communist Party, which owns the app’s developer, ByteDance. They said that TikTok was trying to silence the voices of Uighur Muslims, who are facing persecution and detention in China’s Xinjiang region.
Some users also called for a boycott of TikTok, or even a ban of the app in the US, saying that it poses a national security threat and a human rights violation. They pointed out that TikTok has a history of suppressing content that criticizes China, such as the videos of a 17-year-old Muslim girl who exposed the atrocities in the concentration camps in 2022.
Others defended TikTok, saying that the app was right to remove the hashtag and the videos, as they were spreading misinformation, propaganda, or hate speech. They argued that the letter to America was a dangerous and extremist document that should not be glorified or normalized. They also said that TikTok has a responsibility to protect its users from harmful or offensive content.
What is the future of TikTok?
TikTok’s decision to remove the hashtag and the videos has raised questions about the app’s transparency, accountability, and editorial independence. The app has been facing increasing scrutiny and pressure from the US government and the public, who are concerned about its ties to China and its potential to influence or manipulate millions of users.
TikTok has repeatedly denied that it censors content or shares user data with the Chinese authorities, and has claimed that it operates independently from ByteDance. The app has also said that it is committed to creating a safe and positive environment for its users, and that it respects the diversity of opinions and cultures on its platform.
However, some experts and critics are not convinced by TikTok’s assurances, and have called for more regulation and oversight of the app. They have also urged users to be more aware and critical of the content they consume and create on TikTok, and to exercise their freedom of expression responsibly and respectfully.
