Influencer Says TikTok Stopped Her From Posting About Chinese Treasury Hack

TikTok finance influencer Kyla Scanlon, who has over 200,000 followers, said on Tuesday that the platform flagged her post about a Chinese state-sponsored hack of the U.S. Treasury as "misinformation."

Newsweek reached out to Scanlon via X and TikTok via email for comment.

Why It Matters

On Monday, United States Treasury officials announced that Chinese state-sponsored hackers recently breached the agency's systems, describing it as a "major incident." TikTok influencer Kyla Scanlon posted about the breach, but her posts were reportedly flagged by the platform, raising questions about TikTok's handling of sensitive China-related topics.

National security concerns are at the center of the growing scrutiny of TikTok, with critics warning about its potential to influence public opinion or misuse user data. The platform, used by roughly a third of American adults, is facing heightened pressure from U.S. lawmakers and regulators as a critical Supreme Court hearing nears on January 10.

The court will review a federal law that could ban TikTok unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sells the app. If upheld, the law, set to take effect on January 19, would require ByteDance to either divest or shut down TikTok in the U.S.

What To Know

Scanlon, an economic influencer known for her nuanced takes on complex financial and geopolitical issues, said that she posted a video on TikTok about a Chinese state-sponsored hack of the U.S. Treasury, including references to DeepSeek, a cybersecurity initiative. According to Scanlon, her video was quickly flagged by TikTok for allegedly violating community guidelines on misinformation.

Scanlon expressed frustration with the platform's decision, emphasizing that her video was based on credible reports and analysis. She attempted to appeal TikTok's decision but said she encountered additional obstacles.

"I just appealed, but they didn't give me a chance to cite sources (or I did something wrong)," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Her frustration grew after the platform warned her against repeating the alleged violation. "The message was basically like, 'Do this again and your account will be banned,'" she added.

This is not the first time TikTok has faced accusations of overreach in its moderation practices. Advocacy groups have highlighted cases where the platform removed or flagged content discussing China's government or policies.

TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, and its ties to the Chinese government remain under intense scrutiny in the U.S. The Biden administration has argued that the platform poses a national security risk due to its connection to China.

These concerns have been echoed by lawmakers on Capitol Hill, who have repeatedly raised alarms over potential security threats. Despite efforts by TikTok to mitigate these concerns, such as routing U.S. user data through Oracle infrastructure and reducing ByteDance's control over its American operations, suspicions persist.

What People Are Saying

President-elect Trump, at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago: "I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok. I am confident in achieving a resolution that secures national security and preserves American rights."

TikTok, in a December 6 statement: "The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans' right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who led the charge against TikTok and is Trump's pick for secretary of state, in an April 24 statement: "TikTok extended the Chinese Communist Party's power and influence into our own nation, right under our noses. I have been raising concerns about TikTok since 2019, so this new law forcing ByteDance to divest from TikTok is a huge step toward confronting Beijing's malign influence. It's official: Communist China is on the clock."

What Happens Next

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on January 10 and issue a decision before the January 19 deadline. Trump has promised to prioritize negotiations to prevent TikTok's shutdown and address security concerns through political means once he takes office. The outcome could influence future policies governing foreign-owned technology companies.