TikTok US Faces Major Outage, Censorship Claims After Ownership Shift

A rocky start plagues TikTok's new U.S. operations as a power outage triggers a cascade of system failures, coinciding with censorship allegations. Users report login issues, upload failures, and a disrupted 'For You' algorithm, raising concerns just days after finalizing its U.S. spin-off. The confluence of technical difficulties and user anxieties paints a challenging picture for the platform's future.

Cascading Failures and Algorithm Anomalies

TikTok acknowledged a power outage at a U.S. data center as the root cause of widespread disruptions. The company, via its TikTok USDS Joint Venture (@tiktokusdsjv), stated that the outage led to a "cascading systems failure," resulting in "multiple bugs" impacting user experience. This includes creators seeing '0' views or likes, a display error caused by server timeouts.

However, the statement did not directly address reports of algorithm malfunctions. Many users have reported a surge of generic videos flooding their typically personalized 'For You' feeds, while others encounter the same videos repeatedly. Some users are leaving the platform for UpScrolled, an alternative video sharing social platform that reached as high as number two in the U.S. App Store.

Censorship Accusations and Privacy Policy Concerns

Adding fuel to the fire, some users allege censorship, reporting that videos related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and a recent shooting in Minneapolis are being suppressed. MacRumors reports that users experienced delayed video reviews, reduced views, and messages flagging content as "Ineligible for Recommendation," with some even facing temporary suspensions.

Concerns also surround an updated TikTok privacy policy, which users claim suggests the collection of "citizenship or immigration status" and precise location data. While this wording also appeared in the prior privacy policy, the timing of its resurfacing has sparked suspicion. The company has not yet responded to requests for clarification on these specific allegations.

A New Chapter Fraught with Challenges

The timing of these issues is particularly sensitive. TikTok recently finalized a deal to transfer its U.S. operations to a majority American-owned venture. The new entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, is 80.1 percent owned by U.S. and global investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, with ByteDance retaining a 19.9 percent stake.

Adam Presser, TikTok's former global head of operations, now serves as CEO, leading a seven-member, majority-American board. Despite the change in ownership, the platform faces immediate challenges in restoring stability and addressing user concerns about censorship and data privacy. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the new TikTok U.S. can regain user trust and navigate these complex issues effectively, or if this marks the beginning of a significant decline.