TikTok to clamp down on paid political posts by influencers ahead of U.S. midterms

The brand of TikTok software is seen on a cell phone display screen on this image illustration taken February 21, 2019. Image taken February 21, 2019. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/Illustration

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Aug 17 (Reuters) – TikTok will work to forestall content material creators from posting paid political messages on the short-form video app, as half of its preparation for the U.S. midterm election in November, the corporate mentioned on Wednesday.

Critics and lawmakers accuse TikTok and rival social media corporations together with Meta Platforms (META.O) and Twitter (TWTR.N) of doing too little to cease political misinformation and divisive content material from spreading on their apps. learn extra

Whereas TikTok has banned paid political advertisements since 2019, marketing campaign strategists have skirted the ban by paying influencers to promote political points. [nL1N2HH1NQ

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The corporate seeks to shut the loophole by internet hosting briefings with creators and expertise companies to remind them that posting paid political content material is towards TikTok’s insurance policies, mentioned Eric Han, TikTok’s head of U.S. security, throughout a briefing with reporters.

He added that inside groups, together with people who work on belief and security, will monitor for indicators that creators are being paid to put up political content material, and the corporate will even rely on media stories and outdoors companions to discover violating posts.

“We noticed this as a difficulty in 2020,” Han mentioned. “As soon as we discover out about it … we’ll take away it from our platform.”

TikTok broadcast its plan following related updates from Meta and Twitter.

Meta, which owns Fb and Instagram, mentioned Tuesday it’s going to limit political advertisers from working new advertisements per week earlier than the election, an motion it additionally took in 2020.

Final week, Twitter mentioned it deliberate to revive earlier methods for the midterm election, together with putting labels in entrance of some deceptive tweets and inserting dependable data into timelines to debunk false claims earlier than they unfold additional on-line. Civil and voting rights consultants mentioned the plan was not ample to put together for the election. learn extra

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Reporting by Sheila Dang in Dallas; Modifying by Stephen Coates

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