TikTok users are calling for the app to be removed after videos criticizing the situation in Minneapolis could not be posted.
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Users of the popular content-sharing social network recently noticed that they were having difficulty uploading certain videos to their profile, that they were getting less exposure than usual with certain images or that their news feed seemed frozen. The common denominator between all these images and videos? ICE, immigration enforcement in the United States, and the recent events of the last days in Minnesota.
These concerns with TikTok have sowed doubt among several content creators and users. Simple technical problem or abusive control carried out by TikTok USDS Joint Venture, the new joint venture responsible for TikTok’s American activities since January 22?
TikTok defends itself
TikTok USDS Joint Venture denied censoring the content, saying it was actually a power outage at its data center.
She then announced on X that she had made progress in restoring the service for her American users, while specifying that they risked experiencing some issues when uploading new content. “We are working to make TikTok fully operational,” we can read.
Another element that fuels users’ fears of censorship: among the investors in TikTok USDS Joint Venture, we find the CEO of the technology company Oracle, Larry Ellison, a close collaborator of Donald Trump. According to TikTok USDS Joint Venture, Oracle will be responsible in particular for storing the data of American users in a secure space.
The weight of the stars
Prominent users have recently sounded the alarm. The brother of American artist Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell, wanted to speak about the death of Alex Pretti, the Minneapolis resident shot dead by ICE on January 24. His video, posted on TikTok, took time to reach a level of statistics similar to his other publications.
In response to her brother’s experience, Billie Eilish made a short-lived post on Instagram, in which she indicates that “TikTok silences its users”.
American comedian and actress Megan Stalter (series Hacks) went further: in an Instagram post, she explained that she was unable to upload a video about ICE to TikTok. She points out that TikTok users are now censored and monitored. It calls for uninstalling the app.
The politician reacts
The political community is not remaining silent, either.
Democratic Senator from Connecticut Chris Murphy relayed on X the TikTok profile of journalist David Leavitt, who published videos critical of the work of ICE, which did not garner the desired influence. “I know it’s difficult to keep up with all the threats to democracy. This, however, sits at the top of the list,” he wrote.
California Governor and critic of the Trump administration Gavin Newsom said Monday he was opening an investigation into TikTok.
Nuances
Faced with these events, should we be worried?
As the transaction was concluded last week, it is too early to say that it is really a question of censorship, replies Francis Jetté, content creation strategist. “When it was announced that TikTok’s American activities were going to be taken over, experts spoke out about the risks of technical problems. The speed of the servers was criticized,” he mentions.
But the technical issue card cannot be played for long, according to Mr. Jetté.
“If the leaders of (TikTok USDS Joint Venture) can always fall back on the new thing, on the adjustments they have to make, one wonders if these problems will remain. The real answer will come in time, when we still see problems or issues with content creators or videos related to political and social issues in the United States,” explains Mr. Jetté.
With Forbes, CNN and NBC News
