TikTok responds to EU concerns over Middle East disinformation
The company outlined its measures, including the establishment of a command center, enhanced content detection systems, and the addition of more Arabic and Hebrew-speaking moderators.
TikTok responded to concerns raised by the EU regarding the spread of disinformation related to the Middle East conflict after Hamas attacked Israel.
In a statement, TikTok expressed its stance against terrorism and its deep concern for the humanitarian crisis in Israel and Gaza. The platform outlined several measures, including setting up a command center, improving its automated content detection systems, increasing Arabic and Hebrew-speaking moderators, removing content that promotes violence or mocks victims, implementing stricter rules for live broadcasts, and collaborating with law enforcement and experts.
However, the specific details of the company’s response to the EU’s demands remain undisclosed.
Why does it matter?
Social media platforms like TikTok have become powerful tools for shaping public opinion and perceptions during conflict. Alessandro Accorsi, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, highlights two problems with social media during conflicts: the spread of disinformation confuses the actual situation on the ground and polarizes discussions. Videos like the 2020 Syrian civil war footage misportrayed as a Hamas rocket attack on Israel, and the footage of Cairo parachutists falsely presented as Hamas militants entering Israel illustrate these concerns. Strikingly, these misleading videos collectively garnered over a million views on platform X, highlighting the acute challenges in the digital age.
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