EU Raises Concerns to TikTok Over Spread of Disinformation Regarding Israel-Gaza Conflict

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew looks on during a House Committee on Armed Services Committee hearing on March 23. The European Union sent a letter to Chew on Thursday warning him about disinformation on the platform. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew looks on during a House Committee on Armed Services Committee hearing on March 23. The European Union sent a letter to Chew on Thursday warning him about disinformation on the platform. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo

Oct. 12 (UPI) — The European Union has issued a warning to TikTok regarding the moderation of content to combat disinformation during the Israel-Gaza conflict. Thierry Breton, the EU commissioner responsible for the Digital Service Act, sent a letter to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew emphasizing the need for content moderation and cautioning that failure to comply may result in fines and penalties.

Breton specifically highlighted the platform’s obligation to protect children and teenagers from violent content, including graphic videos that have reportedly been circulating on TikTok without appropriate safeguards. He also noted that manipulated videos relating to the festival attacked by Hamas and other incidents are already in violation of EU law.

The EU commissioner urged TikTok to implement “appropriate and proportionate measures” to ensure a high level of privacy, safety, and security. Breton requested that TikTok enhance its efforts, implement effective systems, and provide a report on the crisis measures taken to his team.

Earlier this week, the European Union also targeted Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, threatening fines if their respective social media platforms, X (formerly Twitter) and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, failed to take stronger action against disinformation regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Breton emphasized that it is the responsibility of these platforms to police their own sites.

In response to Breton’s letter, X CEO Linda Yaccarino assured that their internal teams are actively addressing operational needs and have already taken down over 80 posts that were not initially detected but were brought to their attention by law enforcement.

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