TikTok apologises after being accused of censoring black users

TikTok apologised on Monday after complaints that posts with the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter and #GeorgeFloyd were marked with zero views on the popular short video app.

Users accused TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, of censoring black voices during protests that erupted across the US after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis.

Some TikTok users changed their profile pictures to a raised black fist symbolising black power, while urging others to unfollow users who didn’t support the protest over what one popular TikTok user called “the unfair censorship of black creators”.

“We acknowledge and apologise to our Black creators and community who have felt unsafe, unsupported, or suppressed,” Vanessa Pappas, TikTok US general manager, and Kudzi Chikumbu, director of creator community, wrote in a blog post.

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The company said it was not censoring posts and blamed a display issue stemming from a technical glitch that affected a wide array of hashtags. In reality, videos with the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag have generated more than 2 billion views, according to TikTok.

“We understand that many assumed this bug to be an intentional act to suppress the experiences and invalidate the emotions felt by the Black community,” Pappas and Chikumbu wrote. “And we know we have work to do to regain and repair that trust.”

TikTok said it would create a special council to amplify diverse voices and will donate US$3 million to non-profit organisations that help the black community and US$1 million to fight racial injustice and inequality in the US.

The company also said it would shut certain sound features on the app on Tuesday in solidarity with “Black Out Tuesday”, a protest by the music industry.

“Words can only go so far. I invite our community to hold us accountable for the actions we take over the coming weeks, months and years,” said Kevin Mayer, who took over as TikTok chief executive last month, in a separate post on TikTok.

TikTok has been accused of censorship before, including allegations that it suppressed posts related to anti-government protests in Hong Kong, as well as videos by disabled, queer and overweight creators.