Users of TikTok are alleging the platform suppressed or delayed content related to the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man by federal immigration agents. These claims of censorship come as the company finalizes its deal to spin off its U.S. business and faces ongoing technical difficulties.
A makeshift memorial now stands at the site where Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis on Sunday, January 25, 2026. Simultaneously, a significant number of TikTok users are voicing concerns about alleged censorship and suppression of content related to the incident. Many users claim that videos they posted about the shooting experienced drastically reduced views, delays in appearing on the platform, or were simply not visible to their followers.
Accusations of censorship are widespread, with many users employing the hashtag #TikTokCensorship on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Bluesky, and Facebook to amplify their grievances. Several users are reporting drastic differences in the view counts of videos discussing the shooting compared to their usual content, suggesting deliberate downranking or suppression by the platform’s algorithms. The broader situation hints at potential issues with TikTok’s content moderation policies, especially regarding politically sensitive topics. \The technical difficulties reported by TikTok users extend beyond concerns regarding content related to the Minneapolis shooting. Downdetector, which tracks outages based on user reports, indicates thousands of users experienced issues over the weekend. These issues include difficulties in posting videos, inconsistencies in follower counts, and videos showing zero views, irrespective of their content. The timing of these complaints is particularly noteworthy, coinciding with TikTok’s recent announcement of finalizing a deal to spin off its U.S. business to non-Chinese investors. The new U.S. company, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, will be controlled by a consortium of U.S. businesses. This development follows President Donald Trump’s earlier efforts to ban the platform, which was averted by the company’s agreement to change ownership. Given the substantial user base of approximately 200 million users in the U.S., any issues affecting content visibility or platform functionality are bound to draw intense scrutiny. The situation highlights the challenges faced by social media companies in moderating content during periods of heightened political tension or following major policy changes. Automated moderation systems can produce unintended consequences. \In response to the accusations of censorship, TikTok issued a statement on X, attributing the problems to a power outage at a U.S. data center impacting TikTok and other related apps. The company stated it was working with the data center to restore its services. However, the explanation has not fully satisfied users, some of whom continue to report issues, while others see this as a cover-up for a more significant bias towards censorship. Steve Vladeck, a Georgetown law professor, shared his experience on Bluesky, indicating that a video critical of the Department of Homeland Security was held “under review” for an extended period. The situation prompted Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) to express concerns about potential threats to democracy. Furthermore, the incident echoes similar complaints faced by other tech companies. Meta, for example, has faced accusations of suppressing content, including incidents involving abortion pill providers and pro-Palestinian supporters. The current situation involving TikTok and the shooting underscores the increasing scrutiny platforms face regarding content moderation, especially when dealing with controversial political issues. The issues are further complicated by the company's change in ownership and the ongoing effort to balance free speech with the need to prevent the spread of misinformation and hate speech
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