TikTok censorship claims spark probe of app's handling of anti-Trump content
3 months ago
- #Censorship
- #TikTok
- #Social Media
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a review of TikTok following complaints of censorship related to ICE and a Minneapolis shooting.
- TikTok attributed the issues to a data center outage, denying claims of intentional censorship.
- Users reported problems posting videos, low visibility, or account restrictions when discussing ICE or Trump-critical content.
- TikTok's new U.S. ownership, including Oracle, finalized a deal backed by Trump, raising concerns over editorial influence.
- Celebrities and influencers like Billie Eilish and Megan Stalter accused TikTok of silencing ICE-related content.
- Journalists and political analysts experienced suspensions or low views on political content.
- TikTok's updated privacy policy disclosed access to sensitive data, though these terms were not new.
- Critics warned of potential political influence under new ownership, citing risks to free speech.
- The sale stemmed from bipartisan concerns over Chinese influence, despite fears of conservative control.