Key Takeaways:
– TikTok removes accounts connected to Russian media for alleged covert operations.
– The decision followed violations of the platform’s community guidelines.
– The video-sharing site pledged more information in its upcoming September report.
– Aimed at preventing the spread of misinformation, TikTok is bolstering policies for user safety.
– The move coincides with new U.S. sanctions against Russia.
TikTok has recently made significant steps in its attempt to curb “covert influence operations”; the recent casualties being several accounts linked to Russian media groups. The action comes as the video-sharing company ramps up its measures to ensure user safety from evolving threats ahead of the 2024 U.S. election.
TikTok Enforces Community Guidelines
In a bold move announced on Monday, TikTok confirmed that it had purged several accounts connected with Russian parent companies Rossiya Segodnya and TV-Novosti. The grounds for the action were violations of the platform’s community guidelines. While the company did not disclose which specific accounts were affected, NBC News reported that Russian state media outlets RT (formerly Russia Today) and Sputnik had gotten the chop.
TikTok noted that the content from these accounts had been restricted within the European Union and United Kingdom. Globally, however, their content was not eligible for users’ “For You” pages due to attempts to influence foreign audiences on worldwide events and affairs.
More Details to Follow In Upcoming Report
In a bid to provide more transparency, TikTok announced that it would reveal more information about the banished accounts in its September Covert Influence Operations report. This follows a similar report released in August in which TikTok revealed the removal of five networks reportedly involved in covert influence operations.
Additionally, the platform emphasized the measures being put into place for the forthcoming election cycle. It assured its community of over 170 million American users that steps were being taken to protect them from evolving threats.
To achieve this, TikTok stated its commitment to enforcing stringent policies to prevent the spread of misinformation. The company also affirmed its dedication to elevating trustworthy election information and collaborating with both internal and external experts. This, it said, would help improve their approach iteratively.
Understanding The Backdrop
The purge of these accounts by TikTok came shortly after new sanctions were imposed against Russia by the U.S. These sanctions were purportedly in response to RT’s alleged involvement in covert influence operations worldwide.
On its part, RT confirmed through an article published on Saturday that TikTok had indeed deleted its accounts alongside some from Sputnik. Moreover, RT concurred that the clampdown occurred just days after the U.S. implemented the new sanctions against Russia.
In conclusion, TikTok’s recent move underscores the growing role of social media platforms in preserving the integrity of electoral processes. As the world grapples with the specter of misinformation, companies like TikTok paving the way for proactive measures can make a significant difference.