TikTok apparently strives to limit its potential contribution to the Violent coup by the Burmese army. As The edge Remarks, Rest of the world at learned that TikTok belatedly banned certain Burmese accounts that publish violent videos supporting the coup. The social network said in a statement that it had “aggressively” cracked down on accounts promoting violent content and was stepping up its moderation, but the resignations appear to have started in earnest in early March (a month after the coup began). State) and have had limited impact.
The nature of the videos varies. Some help justify violent responses from the military and police, while others directly threaten protesters with death if they march. Others are spreading false and hateful claims, such as unsubstantiated claims that foreigners and Muslims are manipulating protesters. Many videos are from individual accounts and are not necessarily coordinated, even if they feature a common message.
Row suggested that the lack of moderators and other Burmese-speaking TikTok representatives might have played a role. Without a thorough understanding of the culture and context, TikTok and platforms like it tend to be responsive and may miss out on videos that automatic moderation won’t catch.
In a way, TikTok is relearning the lessons Facebook has learned his failed approach the atrocities committed against Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhists. Facebook has started cracking down on pro-coup forces almost immediately, and at the end of February had pulled the main army page. It was prepared for the likelihood that the military would encourage violence. TikTok’s relative lack of preparedness may have made it a haven for coup supporters who seek to spread threats and disinformation.
There is no evidence yet directly linking TikTok videos to the deaths. Even so, the report could step up pressure on TikTok to take action and downplay the chances that a violent clip will kill protesters or deter them from taking to the streets.