TikTok has said it has assigned more people to combat disinformation on its platform after the attack on Israel by Hamas after the European Union chastised the social media company.
The company, which is owned by China’s ByteDance, said in a statement it had “immediately mobilised significant resources and personnel to help maintain the safety of our community and integrity of our platform”, and that it had removed more than 500,000 videos and closed 8,000 live streams in the region.
Social media companies have repeatedly come under scrutiny during periods of war, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fighting over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, and now the war between Hamas and Israel.
TikTok said it had launched a command centre to look at the latest conflict, updated its automated detection systems to look for graphic and violent content, and added an unspecified number of moderators who speak Arabic and Hebrew. It has also restricted live broadcasts “given the heightened safety risk in the context of the current hostage situation”.
The EU on Friday said it has opened an investigation into X, formerly called Twitter, over disinformation related to the conflict, while it also reprimanded Facebook’s owner, Meta.
The EU’s commissioner for industry, Thierry Breton, on Thursday wrote to Shou Zi Chew, TikTok’s chief executive, calling for the company to step up its efforts to respond promptly to law enforcement requests to take down illegal content, and asking for a response to his letter within 24 hours.
#TikTok has a particular obligation to protect children & teenagers from violent content & terrorist propaganda —as well as death challenges & potentially life-threatening content.#DSA sets out very clear obligations TikTok must comply with.
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) October 12, 2023
Letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew⤵️ pic.twitter.com/J1tpVzXaYR
Breton said the EU had seen “indications that TikTok is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU.”
TikTok had a particular responsibility to protect children and teenagers from graphic and distressing content such as videos of hostage taking, Breton said, and that “fake and manipulated images and facts” were circulating on the platform.
The social media platform insisted it “stands against terrorism”.
“We are shocked and appalled by the horrific acts of terror in Israel last week,” TikTok said. “We are also deeply saddened by the intensifying humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Our hearts break for everyone who has been affected.”
It also said it remains “focused on supporting free expression, upholding our commitment to human rights, and protecting our platform during the Israel-Hamas war”.
