Questions raised over TikTok app's ties to China
App raises concern over U.S. national security; Gillian Turner reports.
TikTok has come under fire for suppressing videos from disabled, LGBTQ and overweight users, in what the social media app describes as a flawed attempt to tackle bullying.
Citing leaked documents, German digital-rights website Netzpolitik.org reported that TikTok’s moderators were instructed to mark videos of people with disabilities and limit their reach. Netzpolitik.org reported that videos of LGBTQ and overweight people were also placed on a list of “special users” that limited their reach.
TikTok told Fox News that the policy was a temporary one that has now been overhauled.
TIKTOK COULD THREATEN NATIONAL SECURITY, SENATORS CHARGE
“Early on, in response to an increase in bullying on the app, we implemented a blunt and temporary policy,” it said, in an emailed statement. “This was never designed to be a long-term solution, but rather a way to help manage a troubling trend. While the intention was good, it became clear that the approach was wrong and we have since removed the policy in favor of more nuanced anti-bullying policies and in-app protections.”
TikTok was slammed over its suppression of the videos. “TikTok, the social media sensation du jour, has apparently been hobbling users who have physical disabilities. It did so in a misguided attempt to shield these people from bullying — heavy emphasis on the word 'misguided,'” Alice Wong, founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project tweeted on Wednesday.
A spokeswoman for U.K. disability equality charity Scope told the BBC that TikTok's initial strategy was "bizarre."
The Chinese-owned app has been in the spotlight recently. In October, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. called for a probe into TikTok, citing concerns over national security. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also called for a Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States review of TikTok.
ISIS USING TIKTOK TO SPREAD PROPAGANDA, EMOJIS AND ALL, REPORT SAYS
Citing people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported in November that CFIUS had opened a national security investigation into TikTok. Following the inquiry, Reuters also reported TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is stepping up its efforts to separate TikTok from "much of its Chinese operations."
Separately, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Islamic State has been using TikTok as a recruitment tool.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News’ Christopher Carbone and Frank Miles contributed to this article. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
Get a daily look at what’s developing in science and technology throughout the world.