Key points
- Platform accused of censoring Trump-related content
- Complaints raise concerns over political bias
- TikTok blames technical malfunction, denies intent
SACRAMENTO, United States: California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered a probe into TikTok following allegations that the social media platform censored or limited the reach of content critical of US President Donald Trump.
In a statement issued this week, Newsom said his office had received multiple complaints suggesting TikTok suppressed posts related to Mr Trump, raising concerns about political bias and transparency in the platform’s content moderation practices, reports AFP.
The governor has asked the California Department of Justice to examine whether TikTok’s actions may have breached state consumer protection or free speech laws.
The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of social media companies and their influence on political discourse, particularly in the run-up to the 2026 US midterm election cycle. Several users reported that videos criticising Mr Trump appeared to receive unusually low engagement or were removed without clear explanation.
Censoring political content
TikTok has denied intentionally censoring political content. The company said the issue was caused by a technical malfunction that temporarily affected content visibility and insisted there was no deliberate targeting of posts related to Mr Trump or any political group.
The investigation also comes as TikTok continues efforts to reassure US authorities over data security and platform governance, following years of concern about its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
If the probe finds wrongdoing, it could lead to legal action or regulatory measures against the company. The case is expected to intensify debate over the role of algorithms, political speech and accountability on major digital platforms.
