In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, social media platforms are facing increased scrutiny for their role in disseminating both accurate information and misleading content. European Union Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has recently sought clarification from major platforms like X/Twitter, Meta, and TikTok regarding their strategies to safeguard young users.

Breton addressed TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew on October 12, emphasizing that TikTok carries a particular responsibility in protecting children and teenagers from violent and terrorist content, as well as dangerous challenges and potentially life-threatening material.

In response to these concerns, TikTok has issued a statement outlining its ongoing efforts to protect its community while maintaining transparency and freedom of expression.

As part of its crisis management strategy, TikTok has introduced several measures, including an improved automated detection system designed to identify and remove graphic and violent content automatically. They have also bolstered their content moderation team with individuals fluent in Arabic and Hebrew to review posts in those languages.

Here are some of the steps TikTok has taken to reinforce its existing policies against violence, hate, and misinformation:

1. Removal of content that promotes violence or ridicules victims.
2. Temporary adjustments to policies, including new restrictions on who can view TikTok LIVE.
3. Collaboration with global law enforcement agencies and experts to align with legal and human rights standards for better platform security.
4. Introduction of search reminders to alert users about potential misinformation and direct them to in-app well-being resources.

Additionally, TikTok has announced that it removed 500,000 videos and closed 8,000 livestreams in the affected region, citing guideline violations since the beginning of the conflict in early October.

While TikTok has seen billions of views on videos related to the conflict, concerns have emerged regarding the spread of disinformation from partisan sources and bots on both sides. Old photos, fake news, and unverified claims continue to circulate on the internet, sometimes fueling violence.

In their statement, TikTok has pledged to remain adaptable and continue enhancing their safety measures in response to the evolving situation.