What happened

Despite a strict policy prohibiting all political ads since 2019, TikTok approved 50 percent of the ads submitted by Global Witness that contained false election information. 

This marks a notable decline from a previous investigation where TikTok approved 90 percent of similar ads ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.

The ads in question included blatant misinformation, such as claims about online voting and false voter requirements.

Why it happened

The shortcomings in TikTok's moderation system stem from its reliance on automated detection processes, which have proven inadequate in identifying political content effectively. 

Although TikTok stated that its machine moderation system mistakenly approved some ads, it emphasised that these ads were never published because they were pulled before going live. 

The platform has acknowledged the need for improvement and is reportedly working on enhancing its ad review processes, which include both machine and human moderation. 

However, the ongoing presence of political messages on TikTok indicates significant challenges in regulating content amid heightened scrutiny from US lawmakers regarding national security concerns related to its Chinese ownership.