Fox’s first appearance: A Republican senator criticizes TikTok and its China-based owner over a video on the platform that allegedly shows users how to cross the U.S. southern border as the number of Chinese people crossing the border rises. is seeking an answer.
In a letter to the CEOs of TikTok and ByteDance, Sen. Eric Schmidt (R-Missouri) said there were “concerning concerns” that Chinese people are using TikTok and its Chinese version to illegally cross the southern border. “Should,” he quoted the report as saying.
CBS News reported how the migrants were given step-by-step instructions to hire smugglers and detailed instructions on where to find gaps along the southern border, particularly near parts of San Diego.
Other news outlets have reported on how Chinese immigrants earned their income. social media influenceryou can plan your international trip with private groups and user comments.
50 Democrats and 15 Republicans vote “no” on bill aimed at blocking TikTok
TikTok is facing congressional scrutiny because of its Chinese ownership. (St. Petersburg)
“As information related to incursions at the U.S. southern border floods the platform, some citizens are reporting details about the specific mode of transportation they use. There’s even a post about how they’re predicting it,” Schmidt said.
He said ByteDance’s contribution to the crisis was “deeply concerning and puts national security at risk.”
Fox reported last month that Chinese people are the fastest-growing migrant population in at least one border region. The number of Chinese people has been increasing since 2021, and exceeded 2,000 in 2022. In fiscal 2023, that number has rapidly increased to more than 24,300.
“Our nation is facing an unprecedented surge in illegal aliens crossing our southern border, threatening the safety and well-being of our citizens, and it is clear that your platform is directly contributing to this surge.” said Schmidt.
His request for information included a timeline of when companies started seeing videos promoting illegal immigration, efforts to mitigate the effects of those videos, and communications with Chinese government officials about illegal immigration. .
Chinese immigrants overwhelm Mexicans in key southern border area
Schmidt said in a statement to Fox that TikTok “needs to provide answers as to why our platform is further empowering coyotes, cartels, and human traffickers to facilitate illegal crossings at our southern border.” Stated.
“TikTok is endangering national security and shamelessly contributing to a disaster at our borders. “We need to know exactly how the platform has enabled illegal immigration into our country,” he said.
Fox News has reached out to TikTok and ByteDance for comment on this article. TikTok said in a statement to FOX last month: “We strictly prohibit human smuggling and we will remove it from our platform and report it to law enforcement when warranted.”
according to TikTok website, “We provide a space for survivors of human exploitation to share their stories and for immigrants and refugees to document their journeys,” the company said in a statement.
The social media company also claimed that 93% of human trafficking content on its platform has been actively removed.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The letter was filed as the House of Representatives approved a bill that would force ByteDance to exit TikTok.
The bill was introduced by House China Select Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.). sailed through the house The decision was made on a bipartisan vote of 352-65.
If signed into law, the bill would block the app in the U.S. if parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell it within 165 days of its passage. It would also require purchases by countries that are not adversaries of the United States.
FOX News’ Timothy Nerozzi contributed to this report.
