TikTok: Actions Taken vs 'Harmful' Misinformation

Social media platform TikTok has taken steps to address the spread of false information online, especially ahead of the 2025 midterm elections.

- With Jose Rodel Clapano

"We do not allow harmful misinformation on TikTok and we have taken down content that violates our community guidelines. We remove 98 percent of this type of content proactively," a company spokesperson said in a statement sent to The STAR.

TikTok did not release the total number of videos taken down for violating its policy on misinformation.

But based on its latest enforcement report, a total of 4.85 million from the Philippines were removed from October to December 2024 for violating its community guidelines. This is on top of the 4.5 million videos removed in the preceding quarter.

A number of false information related to the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte have spread on TikTok and other social media platforms, reports compiled by collaborative fact-checking initiative Tsek.ph showed.

Based on TikTok's policy, "misinformation that may cause significant harm to individuals or society, regardless of intent," are not allowed on the platform, including those related to "certain health content, conspiracy theories, repurposed media or misrepresented authoritative sources."