There is countless false information circulating online about Hamas’ attack on Israel – which is also being spread via TikTok. The EU Commission has now warned the online service and asked it to take action within 24 hours.
The EU Commission has now also warned the online service TikTok because of false information in connection with the Hamas attack on Israel and its consequences. “We have information that TikTok is being used to spread illegal content and misinformation in the EU,” wrote EU Digital Commissioner Thierry Breton to Tiktok boss Shou Zi Chew.
Breton had already issued similar warnings to the online service X, formerly Twitter, and the Facebook parent company Meta. The platform has a “special responsibility” to protect children and young people from violent content such as depictions of hostage situations. Such videos are “widely circulating on the platform, without adequate protective measures,” explained Breton. TikTok does not delete “illegal content” in a timely manner.
Countermeasures within 24 hours
Minors in particular used the online service to find out about what was happening, Breton added. Therefore, “reliable sources should be appropriately distinguishable from terrorist propaganda.” TikTok should present measures within 24 hours on how it wants to take action against misinformation.
According to researchers, online networks have been flooded with misinformation since the terrorist organization’s major attack on Israel and Israel’s retaliatory attacks on the Gaza Strip. The extent and speed of the spread of fake news are unprecedented.
Youth advocates warn
German media regulators also warn and emphasize the protection of children. The director of the Rhineland-Palatinate Media Authority and chair of the Commission for Youth Media Protection, Marc Jan Eumann, said that the protection of children and young people must be an absolute priority.
“Detailed photos of corpses do not belong in a 14-year-old’s social media feed. We also have to protect children and young people from disinformation and propaganda,” said Eumann. He also called for people to report irritating content. Parents should also talk to their children about what is happening.