TikTok is under scrutiny after users reported widespread issues uploading videos related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other politically sensitive topics. The reported disruptions occurred shortly after TikTok completed a major ownership restructuring to comply with a 2024 national security law requiring its U.S. operations to become majority-American owned.
The outages and alleged suppression have sparked intense debate over censorship, algorithm transparency, and the trustworthiness of social media platforms. While TikTok attributes the issues to technical glitches, creators and lawmakers are questioning whether content moderation policies have changed under the new ownership.
Users Report Upload Failures and Zero Engagement
The problems became apparent during the weekend of January 24–25, 2026, when many U.S.-based TikTok creators experienced difficulties uploading videos, particularly those discussing ICE enforcement or controversial incidents, such as the fatal shooting of nurse Alex Pretti by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis.
Creators reported that videos that did upload often displayed “0” views or likes, even for accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers—a highly unusual pattern. This prompted concerns of deliberate suppression or shadowbanning.
Comedian Megan Stalter, known for her social commentary and hundreds of thousands of followers, publicly stated that her video criticizing ICE actions could not be published despite repeated attempts. Frustrated by the situation, she deleted her TikTok account, alleging that the platform was censoring her political content.
Other creators reported videos being “under review” for extended periods, long delays in posting, and a significant drop in engagement metrics. Some noticed that even previously high-performing content received almost no visibility, further fueling suspicions of selective moderation.
TikTok Attributes Problems to Technical Glitches
In response to complaints, TikTok US Joint Venture—a newly formed U.S.-controlled entity—issued statements attributing the disruption to technical problems rather than content moderation.
A spokesperson explained that the platform experienced outages following a power failure at a U.S.-based data center, which affected infrastructure and caused delays in uploads, algorithmic recommendation errors, and temporary drops in view counts.
The company emphasized that these issues were not related to content, stating:
“Some users may experience slower video uploads, reduced view counts, and delayed publishing. We are actively working with our data center partner to stabilize services and restore full functionality.”
Despite these assurances, the timing of the outages has raised suspicions among users and commentators.
Ownership Transition Raises Questions
The controversy coincides with TikTok’s recent ownership restructuring. To comply with a federal mandate and avoid a potential nationwide ban, TikTok transferred U.S. operations into a majority-American owned entity named TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC.
The company is now owned by U.S. and global investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, while ByteDance retains a minority stake.
Critics argue that the shift in control may influence content moderation and algorithmic recommendations, potentially aligning with the political or business interests of high-profile investors such as Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison.
Many upload complaints and reports of low engagement emerged immediately after the ownership transition, leading to increased distrust among creators who rely on TikTok for political expression, activism, and outreach.
Political Figures and Creators Voice Concerns
The issue quickly escalated beyond everyday users. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy described the alleged suppression of anti-ICE content as a “threat to democracy,” highlighting the broader implications of perceived censorship on political discourse.
Celebrities including Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell publicly criticized TikTok, citing anomalies in engagement and distribution for politically sensitive videos. Screenshots and anecdotal evidence suggested that posts about immigration policy or federal enforcement were underperforming compared to similar content in the past.
This public scrutiny has intensified demands for transparency in TikTok’s moderation and recommendation systems.
The Complexity of Algorithmic Transparency
Experts caution that determining intentional censorship on platforms like TikTok is difficult. Algorithms that decide video recommendations are opaque, and a range of factors could affect content visibility.
Possible explanations for the issues include:
- Automated moderation filters flagging content for review
- Server or infrastructure failures during data center outages
- Algorithmic recalibrations following the ownership transition
- Technical delays in processing uploaded videos
While technical failures are plausible, the lack of detailed communication from the platform has fueled speculation and eroded trust among creators.
Platform Glitches and User Perception
Platform outages, particularly during major infrastructure shifts, can cause widespread disruptions. Problems may include:
- Delays in video delivery
- Reduced engagement metrics
- Errors in feed recommendations
- Temporary inability to publish content
Even when unintentional, these glitches can be perceived as targeted suppression. For content creators relying on TikTok for activism or outreach, such interruptions can have significant consequences, including lost audience engagement and missed opportunities to influence public discourse.
Broader Concerns About Social Media Trust
This episode occurs amid growing distrust of social media platforms regarding algorithmic bias, data privacy, and political influence. Users have increasingly voiced concerns about:
- Collection of sensitive personal data, including location and usage patterns
- Algorithmic recommendations shaping public perception and engagement
- Platform ownership influencing content moderation policies
Previous updates to TikTok’s privacy policies, including language on tracking user information, have also contributed to apprehension, despite these policies being largely consistent with prior terms.
The Importance of Transparency
Moving forward, TikTok faces a dual challenge: restoring full technical functionality while rebuilding trust. Transparency about infrastructure changes, algorithm updates, and moderation policies will be critical to reassuring users, particularly political content creators.
Key steps for the platform may include:
- Publicly clarifying the causes of upload and engagement issues
- Providing updates on system stability and restoration timelines
- Offering clear guidelines on content moderation and review processes
- Engaging with creators and public figures to address concerns
Without these measures, skepticism and mistrust may persist, potentially driving users to alternative platforms that promise greater control and transparency.
Alternatives and Creator Responses
Some users have already begun exploring newer social media apps that claim to avoid algorithmic suppression or opaque moderation. The controversy highlights a broader shift in user expectations: trust and control over content are becoming as important as the content itself.
Meanwhile, creators affected by the recent outages continue to share experiences, amplify concerns through other platforms, and push for more accountability from TikTok USDS.
Conclusion
The recent TikTok controversy over anti-ICE videos underscores the complex interplay between technology, politics, and social media trust. While the platform attributes the problems to technical glitches caused by data center failures, the timing of outages, ownership changes, and public scrutiny have fueled perceptions of censorship.
This incident highlights broader challenges facing social media companies: balancing automated systems with transparency, maintaining trust during infrastructure transitions, and addressing concerns about political bias and algorithmic control.
For users, the episode serves as a reminder that content moderation, platform ownership, and algorithmic processes are central to how information is shared and consumed in today’s digital landscape. As TikTok works to restore full functionality, creators and users alike will be closely monitoring the platform’s response and transparency measures.
Whether caused by glitches or algorithmic recalibrations, the controversy illustrates how quickly technical issues can be perceived as political suppression—and how social media companies must carefully manage both performance and perception to maintain credibility in an increasingly polarized environment.
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