TikTok influencers make Osama Bin Laden’s ‘Letter to America’ go viral.
OAN’s James Meyers
2:37 PM – Thursday, November 16, 2023
TikTok users are going viral for promoting Osama Bin Laden’s “Letter to America.”
Lawmakers from both sides have blasted the China-owned app for promoting “terrorist propaganda.”
In the letter by the terrorist, bin Laden claimed that he orchestrated the horrific attacks on September 11th on the World Trade Center that killed close to 3,000 Americans because the United States “attacked us in Palestine.”
He also called the creation of Israel a “crime which must be erased.” He also said the AIDS epidemic was “a Satanic American Invention” and criticized U.S. companies for allowing women to have jobs.
The terrorist went on to say that Jews in the U.S. “control your policies, media and economy.”
As a result of the promotion TikTok was giving to the piece, The Guardian, which published the entire letter in 2002, took it off their website on Wednesday, claiming it was being “widely shared on social media without the full context.”
The trend seemed to be started by TikTok influencer Lynette Adkins, who has 12 million followers on social media.
In her recent video, which received over 100,000 likes since being posted on Wednesday, she told her followers to “stop what they’re doing right now and go read a letter to America.”
“The Guardian taking that post down is actually one of the worst things that they could’ve done. I don’t know who was behind it or what the reasoning was, but I feel like it literally just confirmed everything that we read in the letter,” Adkins said.
When reached for comment, a TikTok spokesperson said “content promoting this letter clearly violates our rules on supporting any form of terrorism” and added that the company was “proactively and aggressively removing this content and investigating how it got onto our platform.”
TikTok commented denying any wrongdoing in the situation.
Additionally, The Guardian’s website now displays a message to readers explaining that the text had been removed.
“This page previously displayed a document containing, in translation, the full text of Osama bin Laden’s ‘letter to the American people,’ as reported in the Observer on Sunday 24 November 2002. The document, which was published here on the same day, was removed on 15 November 2023,” the message said.
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How can tech companies effectively monitor and remove terrorist propaganda from social media platforms like TikTok?
Nsumption habits, stating that “an average American consumes 500 times more than a person in the Third World.” Bin Laden’s letter, written in Arabic, has now been translated into English and is being shared widely on social media platforms, particularly TikTok.
The rise of this viral trend has sparked outrage and concern among lawmakers from both sides of the political spectrum. They argue that promoting Bin Laden’s “Letter to America” on a platform owned by a Chinese company is not only irresponsible but also dangerous. TikTok has faced scrutiny in the past for its handling of sensitive content and potential links to the Chinese government.
Lawmakers argue that allowing terrorist propaganda to spread on a popular social media platform could lead to radicalization and incite further acts of violence. They fear that impressionable TikTok users, particularly young individuals, may be influenced by Bin Laden’s distorted views and develop sympathies for extremist ideologies.
Experts in counterterrorism echo these concerns, emphasizing the importance of preventing the dissemination of terrorist propaganda. They argue that allowing such content to go unchecked can contribute to the radicalization process and undermine efforts to combat terrorism.
Several initiatives have been taken to combat the spread of extremist content on social media platforms. Tech companies have implemented stricter content monitoring and removal policies, relying on artificial intelligence algorithms to identify and remove terrorist propaganda. Governments have also passed legislation to hold these companies accountable for the content shared on their platforms.
However, the pervasive and ever-evolving nature of social media makes it challenging to completely eradicate extremist content. With the rapid growth of platforms like TikTok, it becomes even more crucial to address the potential dangers posed by the spread of terrorist propaganda.
Lawmakers and policymakers must work closely with tech companies to ensure responsible content moderation and prevent the dissemination of terrorist propaganda. This partnership should involve regular assessments and updates to policies, increased transparency, and collaboration between governments and social media platforms to address the complex issue of online radicalization effectively.
Additionally, educational initiatives are needed to raise awareness among social media users about the dangers of consuming and sharing extremist content. Teaching digital literacy skills, critical thinking, and media literacy can help users develop the necessary tools to recognize and reject terrorist propaganda.
As the global community continues to grapple with the threat of terrorism, it is crucial to address the dissemination of terrorist propaganda on social media platforms. Combating online radicalization requires a multi-faceted approach that involves the concerted efforts of governments, tech companies, and individuals themselves.
While the viral spread of Bin Laden’s “Letter to America” on TikTok is concerning, it also serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to remain vigilant in countering extremist ideologies and preventing their spread through online platforms. Only through collective action can we hope to mitigate the dangers of online radicalization and ensure a safer digital environment for all.
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