TikTok reportedly censors ‘free Palestine’ comments as hate speech

Video-sharing platform TikTok has faced allegations censored pro-Palestinian content following its recent restoration in the United States, where it had been banned by the Biden administration over concerns about Chinese influence.

Several TikTok users took to social media to complain that the platform removed comments containing phrases like "Free Palestine," labeling them as violations of community guidelines, including hate speech.

Critics slammed the app, with some suggesting that TikTok's reinstatement in the US might have come with conditions, including censoring pro-Palestinian content or any material opposing America's political interests.

It is worth noting that US President Joe Biden had previously pressured TikTok to sell its operations to an American entity as a prerequisite for continuing its services in the United States. 

The push for American ownership was part of an effort to reduce alleged Chinese influence that, according to the US government, poses a threat to national security.

The platform was shut down on Saturday, leaving millions of American users without access to their profiles and content. In response, many users switched to another Chinese app, RedNote, known for its e-commerce and short-form video features.

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Former US President Donald Trump had pledged to lift the ban on TikTok after assuming office, leading to its restoration in the US.

While TikTok has not officially responded to allegations of pro-Palestinian content censorship, some users speculated that the issue might be due to a technical glitch rather than a deliberate policy. 

However, thousands of pro-Palestinian users shared video evidence and screenshots showing that their comments, such as “Free Palestine,” were being flagged and removed.