Bin Laden's letter on TikTok: Unravelling narrative war in the shadow of India's ban

Twenty-one years ago, Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, penned a document titled “Letter to America,” which has recently gained significant traction on social media, particularly on the Chinese app, TikTok. This resurgence has sparked discussions about the platform’s potential influence in shaping public opinion, concerns about national security and the actions taken by other nations, notably India, in response to these challenges. In the document from 2002, Bin Laden unleashes a scathing critique of the United States, blaming the country’s Middle East interventions and its longstanding support for Israel for the bloodshed in Afghanistan and Palestine. He specifically accuses the US of complicity in oppressing the Palestinian people through its unwavering association with Israel. The creation and continuation of Israel, according to Bin Laden, constitute one of the greatest crimes, with American citizens deemed as leaders of its criminals. Bin Laden’s letter, circulated on TikTok, justifies the 9/11 attacks as a form of revenge, arguing that Americans, by funding military actions, are not innocent of the crimes committed by the US and Israel. This narrative has found resonance among some TikTok users, prompting a broader examination of the platform’s role in disseminating content that can radicalise young minds into a sinister ideology. The TikTok panic surrounding this letter is multifaceted. Beyond its role as a social media platform, TikTok has become a focal point of national security concerns, with bipartisan support among US politicians to either restrict or outright ban the app. A recent congressional hearing grilled TikTok CEO Shou Chew over the app’s ties to China, given that its parent company, ByteDance, is Chinese. Despite TikTok claiming an average user age of 31, its deep association with youth culture makes it a potential breeding ground for shaping opinions, particularly among younger demographics. The letter’s renewed relevance is further underscored by its commentary on the ongoing situation between Israel and Palestine. Against the backdrop of recent events such as Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli retaliation, TikTok users discussing the letter often emphasize a critical view of US foreign policy in West Asia and express implicit support for Bin Laden’s actions. TikTok videos featuring the hashtag #lettertoamerica have amassed millions of views, with a compilation as shared by social media influencer Yashar Ali reaching a staggering 38 million views. However, this widespread exposure has led to a swift and strong backlash. The White House has condemned the dissemination of what they deem “repugnant, evil, and antisemitic lies” from the leader of Al Qaeda, emphasizing that associating with such vile words insults the families of the 2,977 individuals who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks. Beyond the TikTok phenomenon, the situation raises broader questions about China’s role in shaping global narratives through the media. China, in countering the dominance of the West, strategically employs news media as a weapon in an ideological and political struggle. The Chinese regime’s investments, totalling around $6.6 billion since 2009, aim to bolster its global media presence, with exchange programmes for foreign reporters and partnerships with media outlets worldwide. China’s global media strategy involves not only positive portrayals of its leadership but also unconventional tactics such as providing state media content free of charge, paying for entire supplements in respected foreign newspapers and launching bilateral cooperation agreements with local media outlets. The Belt and Road Initiative serves as a crucial context, with China attempting to shape information narratives internationally, especially in countries directly linked to its larger infrastructure projects. In March 2019, when Italy officially became a part of the Belt and Road Initiative, President Xi Jinping signed media agreements with Italian entities, solidifying the global reach of Chinese media influence. While China actively censors its own citizens and expels foreign correspondents, the regime now aims to shape international information narratives, further intensifying the ideological struggle. The fact that China feels compelled to defend TikTok vigorously is notable. TikTok serves as a powerful vehicle for disseminating Chinese state propaganda globally. This highlights the global dimension of state media outlets’ work, which has gained prominence since Chinese leader Xi Jinping emphasized spreading China’s “discourse power” and having state media “tell China’s story well”. TikTok, in particular, has become a conduit for Chinese state propaganda, serving ads to millions of Europeans. The range of promotions includes defence of Chinese COVID-19 lockdowns and efforts to recast Xinjiang — where China has persecuted and detained more than one million mostly Muslim Uyghurs — as a spectacular tourist destination. The TikTok saga has not escaped the attention of political leaders in the US, who are inching closer to a potential nationwide ban spurred by concerns over its parent company ByteDance’s ties to China. While a US ban might seem unprecedented, the Indian government set a significant precedent in June 2020 by abruptly banning TikTok, affecting over 200 million users. India’s ban, citing privacy and national sovereignty issues, is viewed as an “incredibly important precedent” and a ‘guide star’ for other countries, according to a top US official. As concerns mount over the Chinese short video app’s potential threat to national security, Brendan Carr, Commissioner of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), argues that nothing short of a “blanket ban”, similar to India’s approach, will suffice. The situation with TikTok thus stands as a critical battleground where the choices made by individual nations will play a pivotal role in shaping the digital landscape of the future. While banning TikTok and other apps spreading Chinese propaganda might be a landmark decision, it is just one side of the story; the other, and more sinister, side of the story is the unpaid actors of the Chinese propaganda within a nation’s boundaries. The strength of China also lies in brainwashing important media players into its narrative and then letting them disseminate it to the masses. In this intricate web of geopolitics, information dissemination and technological innovation, the impact of TikTok transcends entertainment, raising profound questions about its role in global affairs and the delicate balance between freedom of expression and national security. The writer takes special interest in history, culture and geopolitics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the  Latest News,  Trending News,  Cricket News,  Bollywood News, India News and  Entertainment News here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.