Several senators have started claiming of being hounded by messages, some of which are threatening, as the US Congress decides on the proposed TikTok ban in the country.
North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis told Associated Press of receiving calls to his office inquiring about his decision on the bill pushing to ban TikTok and all ByteDance-owned apps in the US.
(Photo : Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Tillis claimed some of the 1,000 messages his office received even threatened to harm or kill him.
The Washington Post also earlier reported that the US Capitol Police are recording an "uptick" in "threats and concerning messages" related to the TikTok discussion.
However, none so far has provided evidence on the so-called threatening messages from supposed TikTok supporters. It is worth noting that many of the senators who received calls earlier declared intentions to support the ban.
The calls were first reported after TikTok urged its US users to call for senators to stop the looming ban on the app amid the US House of Representatives' decision to approve the bill.
Several news outlets earlier reported users receiving a notification on their TikTok app telling them to "let Congress know what TikTok means to you and tell them to vote NO."
Also Read: TikTok Rallies Users to Urge Senators Against the TikTok Ban
Senate to Take its Time Deciding on TikTok Ban Bill
After a speedy approval of the proposed Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act in the House, the Senate said it intends to stall the bill amid uncertainties.
The decision to slow down deliberations on the ban came after several representatives, many of whom use TikTok for their re-election campaign, were criticized for supporting the bill.
Chief among those that came under fire was North Carolina Rep. Jeff Jackson who immediately apologized for supporting the bill because of supposed inside intelligence that the app could be "potentially being controlled by an adversarial government."
Jackson, who has 2.3 million followers on the platform, used the app to appeal to younger voters to win his position in the 14th congressional district last year.
It is worth noting that criticisms pointed at Jackson and other representatives who supported the bill have been scrutinizing but still respectful, far from the threatening messages Tillis claimed to receive.
Related Article: TikTok Ban and the US Government: A Case of Restrictions, State Control, and Espionage Fears
TikTok's Position Ahead of the 2024 US Elections
The Senate's decision on the looming TikTok ban is currently in a precarious situation as the 2024 US Election is just around the corner.
Over the past months, TikTok has become the platform for many young voters to discuss political topics, beating other social media sites like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
Among the prominent discussions on the video-sharing site relates to the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and criticisms of the US government's support to Israel.
NBC News earlier reported that one in every five voters claimed to use TikTok on a daily basis.
