JAN 28 – TikTok has denied claims that its new US operations are heavily-controlling what users post after thousands reported glitches with the video streaming platform.
In a response to the BBC, a spokesperson for TikTok US reiterated an earlier statement pointing to technical issues being the reason for issues since it became a separate American entity last week.
“We’ve made significant progress in recovering our US infrastructure with our US data center partner,” they said. “However, the US user experience may still have some technical issues, including when posting new content.”
They also pushed back on users’ claims they were not able to use the name “Epstein” on TikTok.
It refers to Jeffrey Epstein, the dead convicted sex offender and financier. The Trump administration has continued to face fierce scrutiny for its handling of the Epstein case.
TikTok said there are no rules against sharing the name “Epstein” in direct messages.
While the company said problems identified with the platform are being addressed, California Governor Gavin Newsom has nevertheless announced an investigation into claims TikTok has censored content which is critical of the Trump administration.
Last Thursday, a deal was concluded to split off the US operation of the app – three days later thousands of American users began reporting problems including seeing “zero views” on new posts.
Many also reported being unable to see political posts, such as content criticising the shooting by federal agents of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday.
Newsom’s office said it has received confirmed reports of TikTok suppressing content critical of President Donald Trump.
“Following TikTok’s sale to a Trump-aligned business group, our office has received reports – and independently confirmed instances – of suppressed content critical of President Trump,” wrote the California governor’s office on X on Monday.
His post linked to another X user’s post containing a screenshot from TikTok, that appeared to show the video-sharing app flagging up a message they tried to send saying “Epstein”.
It said Newsom would be “launching a review of this content” and probe whether the company had violated the state’s laws.
By BBC
