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New @ASPI_ICPC report from @AudreyFritz5, @DariImpio & myself TikTok & WeChat
~Curating and controlling global information flows~
Read it here: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/tiktok-wechat
by @therevmountain
A key finding: Hashtags related to LGBTQ+ issues are suppressed on the platform in at least 8 languages.
Eg: When Russian-speaking usersācitizens and non-citizens alikeāsearch the app for #Š³ŠµŠ¹ ( #Gay), theyāre met with a totally blank hashtag search result page.
Eg: When Russian-speaking usersācitizens and non-citizens alikeāsearch the app for #Š³ŠµŠ¹ ( #Gay), theyāre met with a totally blank hashtag search result page.
The videos are "shadow banned", which means people can still post using #Š³ŠµŠ¹, but they're hidden from pretty much everyone else.
The correct page (right) is only revealed only after clicking on the hashtag in a posted video (left).
The correct page (right) is only revealed only after clicking on the hashtag in a posted video (left).
Other LGBTQ+ related hashtags are completely blocked.
We posted a video to #GayArab but when we clicked on the hashtag, it redirected to a " #null" page.
We posted a video to #GayArab but when we clicked on the hashtag, it redirected to a " #null" page.
On Instagram (left) a search for #GayArab on 28 August resulted in a list of 118,000 tagged images.
On TikTok? Zero.
On TikTok? Zero.
When we looked in TikTok's code, we discovered that hashtags like #Gay in Arabic, Russian & other languages are categorised in the same way that #Nazi, #ISIS, #KKK & #cocaine are.
TikTok blocked #acab (all cops are bastards) after #GeorgeFloyd's murder & the #BlackLivesMatter 
protests kicked off.
After a public backlash, they backed down & unblocked it. But when we checked during the #Kenosha protests, they had blocked it AGAIN.
protests kicked off.After a public backlash, they backed down & unblocked it. But when we checked during the #Kenosha protests, they had blocked it AGAIN.
We did a deep dive on TikTokās Xinjiang hashtag & found:
ā¬ Only 5.6% were critical of the crackdown on the Uyghurs.
ā¬ The feed was flooded with glossy propaganda videos.
ā¬ Many of the most viewed videos were from accounts linked to state media. https://twitter.com/i/status/1291768648919547904
ā¬ Only 5.6% were critical of the crackdown on the Uyghurs.
ā¬ The feed was flooded with glossy propaganda videos.
ā¬ Many of the most viewed videos were from accounts linked to state media. https://twitter.com/i/status/1291768648919547904
