In a recent lawsuit, it emerged that TikTok formulated an internal strategy to leverage its platform’s content in an effort to gain favor from Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, among other key political figures. This information surfaced within a lawsuit filed by the Kentucky Attorney General, which highlights an internal company document guiding efforts to identify TikTok accounts that could potentially influence politicians and their staff about the platform’s value.
According to the lawsuit, TikTok proposed utilizing videos from Kentucky-based businesses such as a hot dog shop, a record store, and a bait and ammunition store to appeal to Senator McConnell. While the lawsuit does not allege that this plan to influence McConnell was illegal or implemented, it does provide insight into TikTok’s strategies to win over lawmakers skeptical of its connections to China and its impact on teen mental health.
These strategies were initially found in redacted parts of the lawsuit; however, Kentucky Public Radio uncovered these sections through simple technical methods and, along with NPR, reported on the findings. Following this report, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman secured a court order to seal the entire complaint from public access.
The state of Kentucky, in cooperation with 12 other states and the District of Columbia, has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, following a prolonged investigation. The allegations claim that TikTok’s platform is purposefully designed to addict young users, and the company has been accused of misleading the public about associated risks.
In response, TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek stated that the company employs strong protections for children’s safety. Haurek contended that the lawsuit misrepresents TikTok’s commitment to community safety by using selective quotes and outdated documents taken out of context. Addressing the parts of the lawsuit concerning McConnell, Haurek emphasized that working with politicians to showcase platform benefits, such as aiding small businesses in reaching wider audiences, is a conventional practice at many major companies.
Attempts to reach McConnell’s office for comment were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Kentucky Public Radio contacted Emilie Berry, owner of Porgie’s Chow Wagon, identified in the lawsuit as being of potential interest to McConnell. Berry recounted that she was part of a 2022 TikTok marketing effort to support small businesses but was unaware of any political motivations behind it. She noted that TikTok had been beneficial for her business at the time, despite her current efforts to limit personal use of such platforms.
The lawsuit also identifies other businesses in Kentucky as potentially appealing to McConnell, including an ammunition and bait store, a rural internet provider, and a Louisville-based record store that closed in 2022. An internal document detailed plans to alleviate politicians’ concerns regarding data privacy related to China and issues of addiction among minors.
As a Senate Republican leader, McConnell has supported legislation mandating TikTok to either separate from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban in the United States. TikTok is currently contesting this law in court, arguing it infringes on free speech rights.
Legislators are worried that TikTok’s ownership structure in China might render the app vulnerable to Chinese government influence, potentially allowing the spread of pro-China narratives or the sharing of American user data with Chinese officials. TikTok denies these allegations, asserting that there is a stringent firewall between its U.S. operations and the Chinese government.
McConnell has supported the legislation that could necessitate the sale, describing it as consistent with established constitutional precedent and a critical step in countering what he perceives as a threat to American youth and national interests.
Apart from its interest in McConnell, the lawsuit states TikTok regarded Kentucky as a “top market,” classifying users there with specific interests such as baseball, Walmart, boats, and beer.
NPR technology correspondent Bobby Allyn and Kentucky Public Radio’s Capitol reporter Sylvia Goodman contributed to this report.
