On Tuesday, following reports that Iran-backed Hamas terrorists are using TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms to release videos of hostages taken from Israel begging for their lives, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., called on these companies to aggressively take down any such posts, stop the transfer of any financial support to terrorists, and remove the accounts of any terrorist, group or individual sharing this content immediately.
“The unprovoked attack by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists in Israel is horrific and unthinkable. The brutality of these monsters is pure evil and they want to extend the reach of their terror by sharing it on social media. That cannot be allowed to happen. Israelis have been murdered and wounded in the thousands. At least 11 Americans are dead. We’ve seen reports of babies savagely beheaded. Children shot in front of their parents. The elderly dragged through the streets. Now Iran-backed Hamas wants to inflict more terror by sharing videos of hostages begging for their lives in Gaza,” Scott said.
“Social media companies must take action,” he added. “TikTok, Instagram (Meta), X and every other social media platform have an obligation to stop these terrorists from distributing posts containing violence and murder and collecting financial support for their terror operations. This content must be immediately removed and all associated accounts be permanently banned. Anyone financially supporting these terrorists, which is against federal law, must be immediately reported to authorities.
“These videos are terrorism, plain and simple, meant to instill fear and create chaos in the global community—and no company should give terrorism a voice on their platform,” Scott said in conclusion.
