‘CHILLING’: TikTok Bans Independent News Outlet Over Lawmaker Speeches About Charlie Kirk

The Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok temporarily banned a conservative news outlet after flagging two videos in which lawmakers pay tribute to Charlie Kirk in the wake of his assassination.

TikTok flagged two videos from Off The Press, a conservative news brand “for Americans who feel the mainstream media ignores the stories they care about most,” as violating “Community Guidelines.” TikTok later told Off The Press that its account—which had nearly 40,000 followers—had been permanently banned. The social media platform restored the account Wednesday, but flagged a third video, leaving Off The Press vulnerable to another ban.

“As social media platforms emerge as the dominant source of news for Americans, it is absolutely critical that moderation is conducted fairly and reasonably,” Off The Press Managing Editor Julian Baron told The Daily Signal in a statement Thursday. “What we’ve seen from TikTok is arbitrary takedowns of important news content, specifically videos of lawmakers making remarks on Capitol Hill. That cannot be the norm.”

“This sends a chilling message about how much control social media companies have over our public discourse and how easily it can be mismanaged or abused,” he added.

Violating TikTok ‘Community Guidelines’

TikTok flagged an Off The Press video featuring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., urging the House of Representatives to pray in response to news that Kirk, who founded the conservative youth grassroots organization Turning Point USA, had been shot last week.

Off The Press posted the video last Wednesday and appealed TikTok’s adverse decision on Friday, and the social media platform rejected the appeal about a half-hour later.

Off The Press Screenshot

TikTok also flagged a video featuring Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., saying he is sending thoughts to Kirk’s family. The company said the news outlet’s post violated its “Community Guidelines.”

Off The Press Screenshot

On Saturday, TikTok banned the news outlet’s account.

Off The Press Screenshot

After The Daily Caller and The Daily Signal reached out to TikTok for comment, the social media company restored the account, but it flagged as “ineligible for recommendation” a video of Melania Trump, the first lady, responding to Kirk’s death.

Screenshot

TikTok did not respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment about how these posts may have violated its “Community Guidelines.”

The guidelines encourage “Safety and Civility,” stating, “We don’t allow threats, encouragement or glorification of violence, promotion of crime, or instructions on how to commit harmful acts.” The guidelines also forbid “content that promotes hate or attacks people based on protected attributes like race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.”

Nothing in the guidelines suggests videos of lawmakers’ responses of sympathy and prayer after a shooting would violate them.

Americans ‘Deserve to Know’

“Americans deserve to know exactly what their elected lawmakers are saying—unfiltered and without bias,” Baron told The Daily Signal. “That’s what we strive to provide at Off The Press. Any roadblocks in accomplishing that mission, especially from social media companies, are a threat to the free and fair flow of information.”

“The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk was a moment of national mourning and fear,” Baron added. “At times like this, the public seeks guidance and leadership from their elected officials. There is nothing controversial about connecting Americans with their lawmakers, especially during instances of national tragedy.”

Questions About TikTok

“TikTok is a weapon of the Chinese Communist Party,” Wes Hodges, acting director of The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Technology and the Human Person, told Politico this week.

ByteDance, the social media platform’s parent company, operates out of Beijing, and under Chinese law, all China-based companies must make data available to the Chinese Communist Party.

Last year, Congress passed a law banning TikTok if it did not divest from ByteDance within nine months. In January, the Supreme Court upheld the law and affirmed that TikTok must divest from ByteDance or face expulsion from American mobile application stores.  

Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has signed multiple executive orders extending the deadline for the U.S. TikTok ban, signing the latest extension on Tuesday. 

Once critical of the platform, Trump now claims it is important for his younger supporters. The White House joined the platform last month.

TikTok did not respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment by publication time.

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