Critics renew calls for a TikTok ban, claiming anti-Israel bias on the platform::Critics are renewing calls to ban TikTok, arguing that the most popular content related to the Israel-Hamas war on the app has a pro-Palestinian slant.

  • deegeese@sopuli.xyz
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    1 year ago

    The criticism from Israel’s supporters is that free speech on TikTok is changing public opinion.

    That’s the whole point of free speech. If you have to censor the other side to win a debate, it’s an admission your cause is trash.

  • JTskulk@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Americans: Free speech is the best cure for oppression. Wait nooooooo not like that!

  • mvirts@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Lol I know tiktok can influence what people see, but it’s basically the same as Facebook Google or YouTube, people see what they want to see.

    • hh93
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      1 year ago

      Except if it’s in Chinese interest to skew the public opinion in a certain direction (like in this case the Anti-American and anti-imperialist-spins on the war against Hamas)

      • deegeese@sopuli.xyz
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        1 year ago

        TikTok skews young.

        Younger people are more likely to support Palestinians over Israel.

        This is old people getting mad at youth for rejecting old failed politics.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    Members of Congress, conservative activists and wealthy tech investors are renewing calls to ban TikTok in the U.S., arguing that the most popular content related to the Israel-Hamas war on the app has a pro-Palestinian slant that is undercutting support for Israel among young Americans.

    His experience aligns with reporting about how TikTok’s algorithmic function — which has drawn controversy — works: Engaging with a topic signals to the app that similar content should be served to the user.

    In 2020, a TikTok executive testified in front of British lawmakers that the company no longer censored political topics but that previously it had suppressed content related to “the Uyghur situation” — referring to a Muslim minority in China.

    Yael Eisenstat, Director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Center for Tech and Society, said in a statement that the ADL, which is devoted to fighting antisemitism, has “seen deeply troubling videos that have gone viral.”

    Nearly every social media company has struggled with controlling misinformation and Hamas content since the Israel-Hamas war broke out, but until recently, TikTok avoided much scrutiny and had been characterized as responsive to emerging issues by disinformation and hate speech experts.

    “The fact that we didn’t ban (or force US ownership and control) of Tiktok in the US is coming home to roost and allowing terrorist propaganda to spread inside the US and driving real physical danger and violence to US citizens — not just words.”


    The original article contains 1,747 words, the summary contains 238 words. Saved 86%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

    • jsdz@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      This is the best summary I could come up with: It’s “members of Congress, conservative activists and wealthy tech investors.”