TikTok Removing Graphic Suicide Clip Circulating on Platform

Faizel Patel – 08/09/2020

Short video app TikTok says it was removing a clip of a suicide circulating on its platform and is banning accounts that are repeatedly trying to upload the clip.

Reuters reports that TikTok did not specify the video, but at least two media reports say that videos of a man shooting himself with a gun had been circulating on TikTok since Sunday night.

TikTok said on Twitter that it was aware of the clips.

“We’re aware that clips of a suicide that was livestreamed on Facebook have recently circulated on other platforms, including TikTok. Our systems have been automatically detecting and flagging these clips for violating our Community Guidelines.”

The company did not immediately respond to a Reuters request to specify the video clip that it removed while Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

TikTok, whose China-based owner Bytedance has been ordered by President Donald Trump to sell its U.S. operations, has been criticized for its content moderation policy in the past, especially on circulation of graphic content.

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