While more aggressive than most, TikTok’s extensive lobbying campaign is the latest attempt by the tech industry to head off any new legislation — and it's a fight the industry usually wins.

The young voices in the messages left for North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis were laughing, but the words were ominous.

“OK, listen, if you ban TikTok I will find you and shoot you,” one said, giggling and talking over other young voices in the background. “I’ll shoot you and find you and cut you into pieces.” Another threatened to kill Tillis, and then take their own life.

Tillis’s office says it has received around 1,000 calls about TikTok since the House passed legislation this month that would ban the popular app if its China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake. TikTok has been urging its users — many of whom are young — to call their representatives, even providing an easy link to the phone numbers. “The government will take away the community that you and millions of other Americans love,” read one pop-up message from the company when users opened the app.

Cool zoomers to US congress and senate members : were-gonna-kill-you

  • pezhore@lemmy.mlEnglish
    60·
    3 months ago

    I’m in DC for a work thing and was shocked to see a TV ad extolling the virtues of TikTok. It basically followed the story of wounded purple heart Grandpa who needed a new scooter. The family tried everything but couldn’t afford it and then… they took to tiktok. Holy shit! They were able to afford a scooter after donations rolled in! Isn’t tiktok amazing?

    It didn’t specifically end with a call to congressman to stop the ban, but you could tell that’s what they were going for.