TikTok is engaging in efforts to support the European user community in accessing reliable information ahead of the upcoming European Parliament elections. In March 2024, an Election Center will be launched in the app, offering tools and resources to combat disinformation and promote reliable source verification.
TikTok will educate and counter disinformation
Election Centers in 27 EU countries
With over 134 million monthly users in Europe, the platform takes on responsibility for countering disinformation and educating its community. By working with local non-governmental organizations and election commissions, TikTok tailors Election Centers to the specifics of each of the 27 countries of the European Union, allowing it to take local context and needs into account.
Scale of content moderation
To ensure compliance with community guidelines and informational safety, TikTok employs a team of more than six thousand moderators. Thanks to advanced technological tools and collaboration with experts, the platform effectively detects and removes disinformation, especially that related to elections. In the third quarter of 2023, 99% of content removed for this reason was identified and removed proactively, before user reports.
Media literacy and action against covert operations
How TikTok introduces Election Centers against disinformation
TikTok also collaborates with nine European fact-checking organizations that assess content in 18 European languages, including the Polish organization Demagog.org.pl. These initiatives are part of a broader media literacy strategy, under which TikTok runs campaigns aimed at increasing public awareness and the ability to critically assess information. The platform also takes action against covert operations influencing public opinion, especially during election periods, and faces challenges related to content generated by artificial intelligence by introducing bans and tools to label it.
Ahead of the elections, TikTok will also launch "Mission Control" in its Dublin office to increase the effectiveness of election-related activities, as well as further develop cooperation with experts and institutions to evolve and adapt to the changing information environment. Accounts of politicians, political parties, and media on TikTok are subject to additional enforcement policies, aimed at protecting the public interest and ensuring that the platform serves as a space for reliable public debate, while prohibiting paid political advertising.
Summary
TikTok is preparing for the European elections by launching Election Centers in the app in March 2024. The platform, with 134 million users in Europe, focuses on cooperation with local organizations and fact-checkers, including Poland's Demagog.org.pl. Thanks to a six-thousand-strong moderation team and advanced tools, it proactively removes 99% of harmful content. Another new feature is the "Mission Control" command center in Dublin, intended to increase the effectiveness of activities during the election period, while also prohibiting paid political advertising.
