California Governor Gavin Newsom has initiated an investigation into TikTok over allegations that the platform is suppressing content critical of former President Donald Trump.This move follows the completion of a controversial ownership deal for TikTok, which transitioned to a US-owned joint venture, reportedly backed by Trump-aligned investors.
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latimes.comfrance24.comNewsom's office stated that they have received and confirmed reports indicating that videos criticizing Trump, including those condemning actions taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have experienced unusually low view counts or even no views at all.
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yahoo.comThis comes amid a surge of complaints from users who claim their content has been unfairly targeted.
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latimes.comIn response to these allegations, TikTok's US venture, officially named TikTok US Data Security Joint Venture LLC, has denied any wrongdoing.A spokesperson cited a recent power outage at a US data center, claiming it caused "technical issues" that affected content visibility and engagement across the platform.
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france24.comyahoo.comThe company reported that new posts may take longer to publish and recommend due to these issues, which resulted in some creators temporarily seeing zero views on their videos.
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latimes.comThousands of users reported problems on Monday, though the number of reported issues dropped significantly by Tuesday morning.
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yahoo.comTikTok has committed to resolving these technical glitches, although some ongoing difficulties may persist.
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france24.comNewsom's investigation aims to determine whether TikTok's content moderation practices are in violation of California law, especially regarding censorship of content critical of Trump.
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latimes.comThe California Department of Justice has been called to review these practices, emphasizing the importance of free speech in democratic discourse.
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france24.comThe governor has been vocal on social media about the investigation, even posting a screenshot that showed a user being blocked from sending a message containing the word "Epstein," a reference likely linked to Trump's past associations.TikTok stated that there is no rule against mentioning Epstein and is working to rectify the issue.
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yahoo.comCritics, including state officials and internet personalities, have expressed concerns that these issues are indicative of a broader pattern of content suppression.Some creators, such as musician Finneas and freelance writer David Leavitt, have reported experiencing significant drops in engagement on posts regarding controversial topics like ICE and Trump.
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latimes.comyahoo.comState Senator Scott Wiener described TikTok as "now state-controlled media," voicing frustration about the low visibility of his legislative posts related to ICE.
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france24.comSuch sentiments echo a broader frustration among users and politicians alike who feel that their content is being deliberately suppressed.
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yahoo.comAs the investigation unfolds, it highlights the complex intersection of politics and social media, particularly as platforms like TikTok navigate ownership changes and allegations of censorship.TikTok's new ownership structure, which includes significant investment from Trump supporters, adds another layer of scrutiny regarding its content management practices.
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france24.comaol.comExperts have noted the difficulty in understanding the algorithms that govern content visibility on social media platforms, making it challenging to discern whether the issues reported by users are the result of technical failures or intentional moderation decisions.
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latimes.comAs the situation develops, both TikTok and Newsom's office are expected to provide further updates regarding their ongoing responses to these allegations and the investigation's findings.The outcome may have significant implications for how social media platforms operate in a politically charged environment.
