At a Glance
- TikTok’s U.S. operations are under new management and facing allegations of censorship.
- Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a review into possible violations of state law.
- Users report technical issues tied to a data-center power outage and a rise in app deletions.
Why it matters: The controversy highlights the intersection of platform governance, political content, and national security concerns.
TikTok’s U.S. operations have been under new management for less than a week, yet users are already accusing the platform of mass censorship. Governor Gavin Newsom announced a review of the company’s conduct after reports that Trump-critical content was being suppressed. The investigation comes amid a power outage at a U.S. data center and a surge in users deleting the app.
New Ownership and Alleged Censorship
The joint venture that now runs TikTok’s U.S. business was announced last Thursday. It is led by three managing investors, each holding a 15% stake. Oracle, founded by Trump ally Larry Ellison, and private equity firm Silver Lake, along with Abu Dhabi-based MGX, comprise the group. The venture was created to address concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership and to align the platform with U.S. regulatory expectations.
“Following TikTok’s sale to a Trump-aligned business group, our office has received reports – and independently confirmed instances – of suppressed content critical of President Trump,” Newsom’s press office posted on X. The statement also called on the California Department of Justice to determine whether the conduct violates state law.
Technical Issues and Power Outage
The joint venture did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but posted on X that the problems were linked to a power outage at one of its U.S. data center partner sites. “We’re continuing to resolve a major infrastructure issue triggered by a power outage at one of our U.S. data center partner sites,” the statement read. “While the network has been recovered, the outage caused a cascading system failure that we’ve been working to resolve together with our data center partner.”
- Slower load times
- Creators temporarily seeing zero views or likes
- The For You page failing to refresh
User Reports of Political Content Suppression
Users reported that the outage disproportionately affected political content. A Georgetown law professor posted on Bluesky that a video he uploaded criticizing the Department of Homeland Security had been “under review” for hours and still couldn’t be shared. Others said they had trouble uploading videos related to ICE protests, and many noticed a sudden drop in political content across the app. Users who tried to send direct messages containing the name “Epstein” also reported failures, citing community guideline violations.
Downdetector logged more than 500,000 user reports between Sunday and Monday, citing issues with app functionality. CNBC reported that the number of U.S. users deleting the app had increased by 150 percent, according to Sensor Tower data.
Government Response and Legal Review
Newsom’s review is part of a broader effort to assess whether TikTok’s new ownership violates California law. The joint venture’s mandate is to secure U.S. user data, apps and the algorithm through comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity measures, and to retrain the algorithm on U.S. user data and secure it on Oracle servers. The review will involve gathering evidence, interviewing stakeholders, and evaluating the platform’s compliance with state regulations.
Lawmakers have long debated whether the push to ban TikTok is driven by national security concerns or the nature of political content on the platform. At a forum in May 2024, then-Sen. Mitt Romney linked bipartisan support for banning TikTok unless it cut ties with China to concerns about pro-Palestinian content. Senator Chris Murphy wrote on X, “I know it’s hard to track all the threats to democracy out there right now, but this is at the top of the list.” Senator Bernie Sanders added, “This is what Oligarchy looks like,” after noting that Ellison now controls the TikTok algorithm alongside Paramount media properties such as CBS, MTV and Nickelodeon.
The unfolding situation underscores the challenges of regulating a global platform amid shifting ownership and technical disruptions. As the review proceeds, the outcome will likely influence how U.S. lawmakers approach TikTok’s future in the country.
