TikTok has recently muted a video posted by Philippine journalist Joseph Morong, sparking controversy and confusion among Filipino social media users.
Inquirer.net reports that the video, which discussed Morong's experience covering the West Philippine Sea, was rendered effectively useless when the audio was removed shortly after its upload.
TikTok Mutes Journalist's Video Covering Disputed South China Sea
Joseph Morong, a well-known media journalist, shared the video on TikTok to provide insights into the geopolitical tensions in the West Philippine Sea, an area often regarded as a potential flashpoint.
The video's caption read: "MAHIRAP BA MAG-COVER SA WEST PHILIPPINE SEA? How is it like to cover the West Philippine Sea? A glimpse into what is at stake in what others consider a potential flashpoint in geopolitics." However, shortly after posting, Morong noticed that the sound was missing from the video.
Taking to Facebook to express his frustration, Morong wrote, "Lols. It doesn't even have a soundbed. Just my voice but TikTok muted this content on the WPS."
This revelation quickly gained traction, and users began to speculate about the reasons behind the muting of content related to the West Philippine Sea.
Users Online Speculate Chinese-Sanctioned Censorship on TikTok
Social media users pointed out that this was not an isolated incident. Many have observed a recurring pattern where content discussing the West Philippine Sea or critical of China has been muted or deleted.
One user noted that TikTok has been aggressive in silencing comments under the guise of its community guidelines.
The situation has led to calls from some users to ban TikTok in the Philippines, similar to measures being proposed in the United States.
TikTok, a social media platform owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-based company, has faced scrutiny over its content moderation policies and ties to the Chinese government.
Although TikTok CEO Shou Chew stressed that ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government, he acknowledged that like most Chinese companies, ByteDance is legally required to have a Communist Party committee composed of party members within its organization.
This picture taken in Moscow on October 12, 2021 shows the Chinese social networking service TikTok's logo on a smartphone screen. KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images
Philippines Looks to Ban TikTok Amid Growing Concerns
In response to the growing concerns over TikTok's practices, Manila Representative Bienvenido Abante Jr. filed House Bill 10489, seeking to prohibit the distribution, maintenance, and update of applications controlled by foreign adversaries, specifically targeting TikTok.
State news agency PNA reports that the bill authorizes the President to determine which foreign countries pose a threat to national security and territorial integrity.
Abante expressed concerns that TikTok collects sensitive user data, which could be used by the Chinese government to influence public opinion and spread misinformation.
The proposed legislation also aims to prohibit internet hosting services in the Philippines from supporting these 'foreign adversary-controlled applications.'
This incident is not the first time TikTok's moderation practices have come under fire. A 2019 report by The Guardian revealed that TikTok's guidelines instructed moderators to censor content related to sensitive topics such as Tiananmen Square, Tibetan independence, and Falun Gong, reflecting ByteDance's efforts to align with Chinese foreign policy.
