Robert Besser
21 Jun 2022, 02:27 GMT+10
WASHINGTON D.C.: Republican U.S. senators have sent a letter to TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew about reports from Russia that TikTok continues to post Russian state-approved media content about the Ukraine war, while barring videos from those opposing the war.
"Recent reports indicate TikTok has allowed Russian state media to flood the platform with dangerous pro-war propaganda. No company should find itself in the position of amplifying the Kremlin's lies, which fuel public support for Russia's war of choice in Ukraine," according to a letter, signed by U.S. Senators Steve Daines, John Cornyn, Roger Wicker, John Barrasso, James Lankford and Cynthia Lummis.
In the letter, the senators wrote that they were "deeply concerned" that TikTok "is enabling the spread of pro-war propaganda to the Russian public, which risks adding to an already devastating human toll for both Ukrainians and Russians."
TikTok said in a statement to Reuters that the company was looking forward to answering the senators' questions.
In March, media reports stated that TikTok, the Chinese-owned video app, said it would temporarily halt live-streaming and uploading of videos to its platform in Russia due to a new media law signed by President Vladimir Putin.
The senators have accused TikTok of failing "to equally enforce this
policy" and cited a news report that said it "appears TikTok belatedly closed this loophole on March 25."
The senators also said that "misleading, pro-regime content that flooded the service has not been taken down, creating an easily-accessible archive of pro-war propaganda."
TikTok, owned by Beijing-based internet technology company ByteDance, had earlier been the focus of U.S. lawmakers regarding the personal data it handles.
TikTok officials were the targets of tough questioning by U.S. congressmen at hearing last October.
TikTok has over 1 billion users globally, making it one of the world's top video platforms.
Get a daily dose of San Antonio Post news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Antonio Post.
More InformationWASHINGTON D.C.: Despite weather and staffing issues resulting in travel disruptions, last week the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: In May, sales of new U.S. single-family homes unexpectedly increased, but this is expected to be temporary, as ...
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday vowed to "do all in my power" to protect a woman's ...
Zack Greinke pitched six solid innings for the host Royals as they salvaged the final game of a three-game series ...
OAXACA CITY, Mexico - Before he began the journey that ended in disaster, Jose Luis Vasquez lived in a remote ...
Five-star wide receiver Johntay Cook II committed to Texas on Wednesday, giving coach Steve Sarkisian his quarterback-wideout combination of the ...
ISTANBUL, Turkey: Turkish police detained dozens of people after local authorities banned Istanbul's annual Pride parade from going ahead this ...
PARIS, France: Amidst shortages and soaring prices caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent supply cuts, the heads of ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: In the latest in a series of sanctions aimed at further isolating Russia economically over its invasion of ...
MAGWAY, Myanmar - At least eight resistance fighters were killed on Wednesday when junta troops intercepted a truck they were ...
SHANGHAI, China: As Shanghai reports no new cases of Covid for the first time in two months, Shanghai's top communist ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The White House has reported that the U.S., Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the UK have created an ...