Chinese short video app TikTok has taken the commendable step of aggressively removing videos promoting the infamous Osama bin Laden manifesto.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), TikTok says it’s “proactively and aggressively removing this content and investigating how it got onto our platform.”
Content promoting this letter clearly violates our rules on supporting any form of terrorism. We are proactively and aggressively removing this content and investigating how it got onto our platform. The number of videos on TikTok is small and reports of it trending on our… https://t.co/n9Zo7l94r2
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) November 16, 2023
“Content promoting this letter clearly violates our rules on supporting any form of terrorism,” TikTok writes on X. “This is not unique to TikTok and has appeared across multiple platforms and the media.” TikTok adds the number of videos posted on the topic is “small and reports of it trending on our platform are inaccurate.”
The manifesto, which outlines bin Laden’s justification for terrorism, has long served as a rallying cry for extremist groups. By proactively removing videos promoting this dangerous ideology, TikTok is effectively cutting off a source of inspiration and recruitment for these groups.
