TikTok Bans Russian State Media: A Step Towards Digital Responsibility
TikTok has followed Meta's lead by removing several Russian state media outlets from its platform. This decision came after it was revealed that these accounts had been involved in activities aimed at influencing the U.S. election.
Meta’s Ban on Russian Media
Earlier this month, Meta took action by banning RT, Rossiya Segodnya, and other Russian state media networks from its platforms. The ban followed the exposure of a scheme using right-wing commentators in the U.S. to amplify political divisions. This programme aimed to influence U.S. voters by steering them towards viewpoints favourable to Russia. Meta swiftly responded by tackling this coordinated influence activity.
TikTok’s Election Integrity Measures
Now, TikTok has taken similar action, enhancing its U.S. election integrity measures. According to a statement from TikTok:
“Over the last week, our work to protect TikTok during the U.S. elections has included removing accounts associated with Rossiya Segodnya and TV-Novosti for engaging in covert influence operations on TikTok which violates our Community Guidelines.”
TikTok explained that these accounts had already been restricted across the EU and UK, with their content removed from the “For You” feed under its State-Affiliated Media policy. However, in light of new evidence of Russian attempts to influence U.S. voters, TikTok has now banned them entirely.
The Ongoing Threat of Foreign Influence
These revelations highlight the persistent threat posed by foreign influence operations, an issue that first came to light in 2016 when Russian operatives were found using social media to sway U.S. voters.
Meta’s decision to step away from political content altogether stems from the intense scrutiny and pressure the company faced as a result of such operations. The complexity and backlash made political content more problematic than beneficial for the platform.
The latest findings demonstrate that these covert operations are still active, and it is reassuring to see TikTok taking strong steps to eliminate artificial influence from its app.
TikTok’s Efforts to Combat Manipulation
This week, TikTok also published its latest report on covert influence operations, revealing that in August alone, it had dismantled 5 networks and removed 7,792 accounts linked to suspected manipulation activities.
The report serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by foreign groups to sway voters and achieve outcomes favourable to their agendas across various regions. TikTok’s proactive approach in addressing these threats is an essential part of maintaining election integrity in the digital age.
