TikTok is stepping up its efforts to tackle misinformation and the spread of violence and hatred about the Israel-Hamas war on its online platform , it announced on Sunday, days after the European Union (EU) warned social media companies that they risk violating the Union's content rating laws.
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As part of these measures, TikTok is launching a control center to coordinate the work of its “safety professionals” around the world, improving the software it uses to automatically detect and remove graphic and violent content, and hiring more Arabic and Hebrew speakers to monitor content.
According to a statement , following Hamas' brutal attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, the company immediately mobilized significant resources and personnel to ensure the safety of its community and the integrity of its platform.
“We do not tolerate attempts to incite violence or spread intolerant ideologies,” he added. “We have a zero-tolerance policy for content that glorifies violent and intolerant organizations and individuals.”
The company, which is owned by China's ByteDance , said it has already removed more than 500,000 videos and shut down 8,000 live-streamed videos from the "affected area" of the Hamas attack
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As the conflict escalates – Israel has cut off electricity, food, fuel and water supplies to Gaza and has signaled it is preparing to intervene in the region – millions have turned to social media for updates, while misinformation has proliferated on those sites.
A recent TikTok video, viewed by more than 300,000 users and verified by CNN, promoted conspiracy theories about the origins of the Hamas attack, including false claims that it was orchestrated by the media.
Last week, the EU told social media companies that they need to better protect “children and adolescents from violent content and terrorist propaganda” on their platforms.
EU Commissioner Thierry Breton wrote to TikTok on Thursday, in a letter shared with X, asking the company to report within 24 hours on steps it is taking to comply with EU rules on content management. Breton has sent similar letters to X, Google and Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook.
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Another measure that can be implemented is to enhance user education and awareness. TikTok can provide educational materials and guides on how to recognize misinformation and assess the reliability of information sources. In addition, it can promote active user participation in reporting suspicious content and creating communities that promote accuracy and countering misinformation.
Additionally, TikTok may partner with trusted experts and organizations to provide additional information and analysis on the Israel-Hamas war. Working with independent experts can help develop reliable and up-to-date sources of information for the platform’s users. Additionally, providing scholarly analysis and interpretations can help understand the complexities of the war and prevent the spread of misleading information.
Source: CNN
