TikTok, now under US ownership, recently faced a wave of user complaints about glitches and content disruptions, which the company attributes to power outages at its data centers.Amidst allegations of political censorship, TikTok claims that it does not suppress content, and the issues are purely technical in nature.
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cnbc.comReports of problems surged after TikTok's transition to a US-led joint venture, which sparked concerns about the platform's content moderation practices.Users have alleged that the app is censoring political speech, particularly content related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and discussions about Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender whose name has been associated with high-profile scandals.
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sonomaallocations.combbc.co.ukCalifornia Governor Gavin Newsom has taken note of these complaints, stating that his office has received verified instances of TikTok suppressing anti-Trump content.Following the app's ownership change, he announced an investigation to determine if TikTok's actions violate state laws on free speech.
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latimes.combbc.co.ukThe allegations revolve around reports that posts critical of President Trump, particularly those condemning ICE's actions in Minnesota, received significantly lower engagement.
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latimes.comUsers noted that some videos were flagged as "ineligible for recommendation," limiting their reach.
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cnbc.comA spokesperson for the TikTok US Data Security Joint Venture LLC insisted that the app does not have rules against sharing content related to Epstein and is investigating why some messages containing the name triggered error messages.
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cnbc.combbc.co.ukThe spokesperson explained that the recent technical issues were exacerbated by a cascading systems failure resulting from a power outage, which affected the app's performance by causing slower load times and instances where new posts appeared to have zero views.
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sonomaallocations.comlatimes.comDespite TikTok's assertions, the scrutiny from state officials highlights a growing concern about content moderation practices on social media platforms, particularly in politically charged environments.Newsom's investigation reflects broader worries about the balance between platform governance and free speech.
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latimes.comAs the situation develops, TikTok continues to address the technical issues while denying any intent to censor political content.Users remain alert to how these changes affect their engagement and the visibility of their content on the platform.
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cnbc.comThe company's ownership overhaul and the ongoing scrutiny underscore the complexities of managing a global social media platform in a politically sensitive landscape.Public discourse around these matters continues to evolve, with users and officials alike pushing for transparency in content moderation practices.
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sonomaallocations.comlatimes.comOverall, while TikTok claims that it is not engaged in censorship, the recent events have sparked a significant conversation about the responsibilities of social media companies in handling sensitive political content and user expression.
