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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Hibaq Farah and Dan Milmo

TikTok users including Russell Brand given special status, messages show

TikTok Russell Brand Sam Smith Andrew Tate Ethan Payne Michael Barrymore Tommy Robinson Europe
Composite image of high-profile TikTok users Sam Smith, Russell Brand, the Sidemen and Michael Barrymore
High-profile TikTok users (clockwise from top left) Sam Smith, Russell Brand, the Sidemen and Michael Barrymore. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images/Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar/AFP

TikTok has given special status to certain high-profile accounts, with moderators in Europe encouraged to be more lenient with content posted by people including Russell Brand, according to internal messages seen by the Guardian.

The demand to be less stringent has also been underlined in meetings with moderators, the Guardian has been told.

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