TikTok has rejected allegations that its newly established US operations are tightly controlling the type of content users can post, following widespread complaints about technical problems on the platform. Thousands of users had reported glitches affecting uploads and visibility of videos, prompting speculation that the issues were linked to increased moderation.
a TikTok US spokesperson said the disruptions were caused by technical challenges rather than any deliberate effort to censor content. The company explained that the problems began after TikTok became a separate American entity last week.
The spokesperson said TikTok had made substantial progress in restoring its US infrastructure in partnership with its American data-centre provider, but acknowledged that some users may still experience technical difficulties, particularly when posting new content
TikTok also dismissed claims that certain words, including “Epstein,” were being deliberately blocked on the platform, insisting that any posting issues were unrelated to content control.
TikTok has denied allegations that its newly restructured US operations are censoring what users post, following widespread complaints about glitches and restricted content on the video platform. The short-form video service, which recently spun off its American business from its Chinese parent company ByteDance, said the problems reported by thousands of users are due to technical issues rather than deliberate control of speech.
a TikTok US spokesperson reiterated that the difficulties some users have experienced — including trouble posting or seeing new videos since the platform became a separate American entity last week — stem from infrastructure challenges as it transitions to a new system. The company said it has made “significant progress” in restoring its US infrastructure with its local data centre partner, but acknowledged that users may still encounter glitches, particularly when uploading content.
The platform also denied claims that it was banning certain words in direct messages, including “Epstein,” referring to the late convicted sex offender. TikTok said there are no rules against using that word in private messages, and that any inability to send it appears to be linked to ongoing technical problems rather than new censorship policies.
Despite TikTok’s explanations, the controversy has drawn official scrutiny. California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a review into whether the app suppressed content critical of US President Donald Trump, after reports that political posts — including criticism of government actions — appeared to receive unusually low visibility or failed to post correctly. Newsom’s office said it had received confirmed reports of such suppression and is examining whether TikTok’s moderation practices may violate state law.
The debate comes just days after TikTok’s US business was formally separated from ByteDance and placed under majority American ownership in an effort to address national security concerns and avert a potential ban in the United States.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said it had received reports, and independently verified cases, suggesting that TikTok suppressed content critical of President Donald Trump following the platform’s sale to a business group aligned with the former president. The statement was posted on X on Monday.
The governor’s office shared a link to another user’s post on the platform, which included a screenshot appearing to show TikTok flagging a message containing the word “Epstein” when a user attempted to send it.
Newsom’s office said the state would launch a review into the alleged content suppression and investigate whether TikTok’s actions violated California law.
Social media posts seen. indicate that the same flag appeared for multiple US TikTok users when they attempted to message others using the surname “Epstein.” Many users have speculated that this, together with reports of certain political content not appearing in the app’s “For You” feed or search results, could point to censorship.
TikTok’s new US operations are managed by a consortium of investors. This includes Oracle, the cloud computing giant and sole US data centre partner for TikTok, chaired by Larry Ellison, a Republican mega-donor and longtime ally of former President Trump. US investment firm Silver Lake and Emirati investor MGX also hold stakes, while ByteDance retains a 19.9% share in the US business.
Additionally, Michael Dell, founder of Dell Computer Corp and a known Trump donor, is an investor in TikTok US.
Concerns about the platform’s new ownership have also been voiced by celebrities. Actress Meg Stalter, known for Hacks, told her Instagram followers she had deleted her TikTok account, claiming that under the new ownership, users are “completely censored and monitored”similar fears have circulated widely on social media, with many American users questioning whether the app is now “cooked” or manipulated.
