Just days after the bill was signed, rumors floated that ByteDance – the TikTok parent company – will not sell and would rather shut down TikTok in the Land of the Free.
Now, TikTok, despite being perceived by many as a dangerous tool for domestic interference by malicious foreign actors, launches something called US Elections Integrity Hub, describing it as:
We’ll be providing continuous updates on steps we’re taking to protect TikTok during the elections, including misinformation we’re taking action on, new media literacy content, and ways we’re applying feedback from experts, including our US Elections Integrity Advisory Group.
– Suzy Loftus, Head of USDS Trust & Safety, September, 2024
TikTok’s Elections Integrity Hub centralizes the platform’s efforts to uphold the integrity of election-related discussions. The initiative is backed by a team of experts across democracy, civil society, security, and technology, working to prevent misinformation and ensure that users have access to reliable information, the company claims. The Hub will feature updates on TikTok’s policies, a microblog highlighting the platform’s actions, and resources for users to better understand the steps being taken to protect political discourse.
Key elements of the initiative include strict policies on election misinformation, which prohibit content that spreads false or misleading information about how to vote, register, or the qualifications for candidates. To enforce these rules, TikTok uses a combination of AI technology and human moderation, enhanced by collaboration with 19 fact-checking organizations. Content that is unverified will be labeled and may have its visibility reduced to prevent the spread of potential misinformation.
The platform’s policies also try to prohibit covert influence operations and AI-generated content that misrepresents public figures or creates false endorsements. TikTok has committed to labeling AI-generated content. These efforts aim to curb the misuse of artificial intelligence in political messaging.
In addition to these measures, TikTok has reaffirmed its long-standing prohibition on paid political advertising. Politicians and political parties are not allowed to promote political content or fundraise on the platform, a policy the company believes is essential for maintaining the authenticity and inclusivity of its community.
Today, we’re expanding the resources available in our US Election Center, in partnership with nonprofit Democracy Works, to help our community access reliable information about the election. Updates include new, detailed voting FAQs from authoritative sources that can help people better understand how elections work. And in November, we’ll work with The Associated Press to make election results available in our app in real time.
– Suzy Loftus, Head of USDS Trust & Safety, September, 2024
Personally, I think it’s just best to be highly skeptical when it comes to these kinds of assurances, promises, and commitments. We’ve seen how social media works, right? Well, there it is:
