TikTok Says That it’s Not Fueling Partisan Trends Related to the Israel-Hamas War

TikTok isn’t blissful with the suggestion that its algorithms are helping to amplify content in regards to the Israel-Hamas war, or that it could even be talking sides, with the platform posting a 1,300 word overview which explains why its systems aren’t biased, and aren’t seeding pro-Palestine content.

That is been suggested by some U.S. senators, who’ve renewed their calls for a ban of the app, resulting from its algorithms seemingly amplifying anti-Israel and anti-Jewish content in recent weeks.

TikTok’s full summary includes insights into why certain hashtags could also be trending, underlining that this relies on user activity, not TikTok’s own guidance.

As per TikTok:

“It’s critical to know that hashtags on the platform are created and added to videos by content creators, not TikTok. Tens of millions of individuals in regions resembling the Middle East and South East Asia account for a big proportion of views on hashtags. Due to this fact, there’s more content with #freepalestine and #standwithpalestine and more overall views. It is simple to cherry pick hashtags to support a false narrative in regards to the platform.”

TikTok further notes that similar trends exist on Instagram, and other social platforms, while TikTok also says that it doesn’t work to influence the recognition of trends, that are also based on user activity.

“The content people see on TikTok is generated by our community and suggestions are based on the content people have previously engaged with. TikTok doesn’t “promote” one side of a problem over one other. Within the U.S., we have now given our third-party Trusted Technology Provider access to TikTok source code to know if the system is acting as TikTok intends. We’re on a path to allowing an unprecedented amount of third-party access to confirm our source code and systems, something no other peer company has done.”

Which is in reference to Oracle gaining access to TikTok’s code, as a part of a deal to make sure that TikTok is allowed to proceed operating within the U.S. Which remains to be, consider it or not, into consideration by CFIUS, which has been reviewing the potential security risks of the app for years now.

That process has been hamstrung by political wrangling, and now, it does seem to be TikTok won’t face a U.S. ban unless a big latest reason crops up (i.e. the U.S. and China have a serious falling out).

But being viewed as taking sides in geopolitical incidents could also impact this, which is why TikTok is so keen to reply to accusations that it could be influencing trends around such within the app.

However it’s also not a radical suggestion.

In China, the CCP does have significant sway over the content that trends within the Chinese version of the app, called “Douyin”. Which isn’t any big surprise, given the CCP’s broader media control efforts, however it does suggest, ultimately, that TikTok might be a vehicle for similar suppression, and/or amplification, based on the CCP’s guidance.

There’s no evidence to suggest that this is occurring outside of China as yet. However it stays a priority, and that’s likely more problematic than the potential of U.S. user data being shared with Chinese Government officials.

Though there’s no direct evidence of this happening either, but together, this is the reason TikTok stays a priority for U.S. security officials, and why the specter of a full ban continues to loom over the app.

But TikTok has defended its actions, noting that it’s now running a “command center” to combat misinformation related to the Israel-Hamas conflict,

“We also added more moderators who speak Arabic and Hebrew to review content related to the war. Between October 7 and October 31, 2023, TikTok removed greater than 925,000 videos within the conflict region for violating our policies around violence, hate speech, misinformation, and terrorism, including content promoting Hamas.”

Given the stakes, it is smart that TikTok is jumping on the counterattack to defend its honor. However it’s one other reminder of why the app stays in query, which could still see restrictions imposed on the platform at some stage.