US EditionTikTok Says It’s Not Blocking ‘Epstein’ In Messages After Users Accuse Platform Of Censorship
- On Jan 27, 2026, TikTok said it is investigating why some users cannot send 'Epstein' in TikTok direct messages, prompting California Gov. Gavin Newsom to call on the California Department of Justice to review.
- TikTok blamed a power outage at one of TikTok's U.S. data centers for a major infrastructure issue causing multiple bugs, slower load times, and display errors affecting platform creators.
- Tests by NPR found inconsistent blocking of single-word messages, while creators reported temporary `0` views and missing earnings, and DownDetector flagged disruptions impacting 200 million U.S. users.
- Newsom's office confirmed suppressed Trump-critical content and asked the California Department of Justice to investigate, while public figures’ allegations boosted downloads for rival app UpScrolled.
- The U.S.-China deal transferred TikTok's U.S. business to Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, each holding a 15% stake, with Oracle overseeing U.S. user data.
44 Articles
44 Articles
American Tiktok users claim app is censoring ‘Epstein’ and ICE criticism
Tiktok recently changed hands in the US, giving a consortium of mainly American investors - run by Trump ally Larry Ellison - control of its US operations. Since then, American Tiktok users claim that they’re unable to write word “Epstein” in messages on the app, and accuse Tiktok of suppressing content critical of President Donald Trump, as well as censoring videos about ICE raids in Minneapolis. Vedika Bahl goes through what we know in Truth o…
After the takeover of TikTok US by a Trump-affiliated investor team, allegations of censorship accumulate – especially in sensitive terms such as "epstein" and government-critical videos.
Is TikTok being censored? Since the platform legally transitioned to a new ownership structure last week, American users have been complaining that videos…
Users report difficulties in sharing content on ICE raids on social media. California's governor announces an investigation. TikTok denies censorship and calls for another explanation.
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