We continue to take necessary steps to prioritize the safety and well-being of our communities, employees and extended workforce during the global COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the rapidly-evolving situation, it's more important now than ever before to keep TikTok safe for everyone.

Combatting misinformation and elevating trust

In the present context in particular, invalidated or misleading content poses an acute concern and is an area of focus for social media platforms

 At TikTok, we have heightened our moderation efforts, and have been monitoring and systematically removing content from our platform that violates our Community Guidelines. In India, we have removed thousands of videos that have contradicted legitimate advice about COVID-19 from credible authorities, as well as content that could cause imminent harm to public health and safety. As always, we suspend or ban user accounts that violate our policies; when necessary, we even report miscreants to relevant authorities to ensure public safety.

 Furthermore, we are facilitating ready and easy access to reliable and trusted information on COVID-19. In February, we introduced an in-app informational page that provides credible information from the World Health Organization and Government of India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Pinned at the top of the Discover tab, this feature contains answers to common questions, offers tips on staying safe, and dispels some of the myths about coronavirus.

 We have also launched a public service announcement on hashtags related to coronavirus. Currently available in several local languages, the PSA reminds users of our Community Guidelines and presents them with resources to find accurate and up-to-date information. 

 Additionally, over the last few weeks, our platform has prioritised informative content and supported several government and law enforcement agencies, as well as non-profit organisations across India in disseminating information regarding responsible practices in an entertaining and responsible manner. We have been heartened to see the manner in which our user community has rallied to the call for solidarity in fighting the spread of this virus across the country. 

Our Community Guidelines have always been clear: this includes misinformation that may cause harm to an individual's health, such as misleading information about medical treatment.

We have been taking down content in line with our policies related to dangerous activity and misinformation. We do not allow hate speech, content that encourages, promotes, or glorifies dangerous or risky behavior, or content that attacks, threatens, incites violence, or dehumanises an individual or a group of individuals on the basis of protected attributes. We ban accounts that repeatedly violate the above conditions.

This is an unprecedented time for communities everywhere, and we ask our TikTok community to support us by reporting any violative content through the appropriate in-app measures.

We will continue to do everything we can to keep our users safe so they can stay focused on what matters to them – creating, sharing, and enjoying the experience of a global TikTok community.