TikTok Under American Ownership Faces Censorship Allegations, Sparking Investigation
A growing wave of reports suggests that TikTok, now under the control of US investors with ties to former President Donald Trump, is experiencing content filtering, raising concerns about potential political censorship. Users are reporting blocked uploads related to recent protests in Minnesota and systematic interception of messages referencing the late Jeffrey Epstein, prompting an investigation by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The sale of TikTok’s US operations – 80 percent acquired by a consortium led by data center developer Oracle and tech investors Silver Lake and Andreessen Horowitz – was intended to address national security concerns stemming from its Chinese parent company, Bytedance. The aim was to shield the platform from potential Beijing-directed manipulation of public opinion. However, the transition appears to be fraught with issues, leading to accusations that the new American owners are engaging in a different form of control.
Reports of Blocked Content and Intercepted Messages
Users have voiced increasing frustration over their inability to share videos documenting recent demonstrations in Minnesota. Simultaneously, direct messages containing the name “Epstein” are reportedly being flagged as violations of TikTok’s internal guidelines, or are simply disappearing. “The timing is incredibly suspicious,” noted one analyst, given the ongoing pressure on the US government to release investigative documents related to the Epstein case.
Governor Newsom announced the investigation on X, responding to a surge of user complaints. A link to the announcement can be found here: https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom.
Oracle Attributes Issues to Technical Problems
TikTok’s operators, however, attribute the disruptions to a technical malfunction. According to a statement released by the company, a power outage at a data center over the weekend triggered a cascade of issues that have yet to be fully resolved. The company insists that there are no policies in place prohibiting the mention of “Epstein” and maintains that many videos from Minnesota remain accessible on the platform.
A “Patriotic” Filtering of Content?
Despite the company’s explanation, skepticism persists. The confluence of events – the content restrictions, the timing coinciding with heightened scrutiny of the Epstein case, and the involvement of Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle and a known Trump confidant – has fueled speculation about a deliberate, “patriotic” filtering of content.
The shift in ownership was mandated by a new US law designed to force Bytedance to relinquish control of its US business. This legislation aimed to prevent potential espionage or undue influence from the Chinese government. While Bytedance continues to operate TikTok outside the United States, the American consortium now controls the algorithm and user data within the country.
The situation raises fundamental questions about the balance between national security, free speech, and the potential for political manipulation on one of the world’s most popular social media platforms. The investigation launched by Governor Newsom will be closely watched as it seeks to determine whether the reboot of TikTok under American direction is truly safeguarding user freedoms, or simply replacing one form of control with another.
