California Governor Gavin Newsom has initiated a formal investigation into TikTok’s content moderation practices, alleging that the platform has been suppressing posts critical of former President Donald Trump. This announcement came shortly after TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, established a majority U.S.-owned joint venture aimed at securing American user data and preventing a potential ban on the popular app.
Investigation Commences Amid Content Controversy
Newsom’s office reported that following TikTok’s recent sale to a business group aligned with Trump, they have received multiple complaints confirming instances of content suppression. The allegations were made public on X (formerly Twitter), although the office did not provide specific details regarding the nature of the suppressed content. In light of these claims, Newsom has called upon the California Department of Justice to assess whether TikTok’s actions violate state laws.
In response to Newsom’s accusations, a spokesperson for TikTok attributed the reported issues to a power outage at one of their data centres. The representative insisted that the problems were purely technical in nature and not indicative of any censorship. “It would be inaccurate to report that this is anything but the technical issues we’ve transparently confirmed,” the spokesperson stated. Users may have experienced slower load times or difficulties posting new content due to the outage, which TikTok described as a cascading systems failure that they are actively working to resolve.
Major Milestone for TikTok
The establishment of the TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC marked a significant step for the platform, which has faced scrutiny from the U.S. government regarding national security and privacy concerns under both the Trump and Biden administrations. This joint venture will allow American and global investors to own 80.1% of the entity, with ByteDance retaining a 19.9% stake. Notably, each of the three managing investors—cloud giant Oracle, private equity firm Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX—will hold a 15% interest in the venture. The U.S. and Chinese governments have both approved the deal, further solidifying its legitimacy.
Trump, who boasts over 16 million followers on TikTok, has previously praised the app as a crucial tool in his campaign strategy, suggesting that it played a role in his political resurgence ahead of the 2024 election.
Political Tensions and Future Implications
The ongoing tension between Newsom, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican, underscores the highly politicised atmosphere surrounding TikTok. With both leaders having publicly criticised one another in the past, the investigation may further intensify the scrutiny on social media platforms and their influence on political discourse.
The White House has yet to comment on the investigation or the allegations raised by Newsom, leaving many to speculate about the future of TikTok and its operations in the United States.
Why it Matters
The outcome of Governor Newsom’s investigation could have far-reaching implications for TikTok, particularly as it continues to navigate the complexities of U.S.-China relations and domestic political pressures. As public scrutiny of social media platforms grows, how TikTok addresses allegations of content suppression may set a precedent for accountability in the tech industry, influencing not just its own future but the operational landscape for all digital platforms in America.
