TikTok failing to block US election misinformation ads, report finds

21 October 2022, 13:04

TikTok logo
TikTok Warehouses. Picture: PA

All political advertisements have been banned from the platform since 2019.

A report has found that TikTok’s algorithms are not very good at detecting ads that contain blatant misinformation about US elections – despite all political advertisements being banned from the platform since 2019.

The report raises fresh concerns about the popular video-sharing app’s ability to catch election falsehoods at a time when a growing number of young people use it not just for entertainment, but also for finding information.

The research was published on Friday by the non-profit organisation Global Witness and the Cybersecurity for Democracy team at New York University (NYU).

Global Witness and NYU tested whether some of the most popular social platforms – Facebook, YouTube and TikTok – can detect and take down false political ads targeted at American voters ahead of next month’s mid-term elections.

The watchdog group has carried out similar tests in Myanmar, Ethiopia, Kenya and Brazil with ads containing hate speech and disinformation, but this is the first time it has done so in the United States.

The consequences of inaction could be disastrous for our democracies and our planet and our society in general.

Jon Lloyd, Global Witness

The US ads included misinformation about the voting process, such as when or how people can vote, as well as about how election results are counted.

They were also designed to sow distrust about the democratic process by spreading baseless claims about the vote being “rigged” or decided before Election Day.

All were submitted for approval to the social media platforms, but none were actually published.

TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, performed the worst, letting through 90% of the ads the group submitted.

Facebook fared better, catching seven out of 20 false ads – in both English and Spanish.

Jon Lloyd, senior adviser at Global Witness, said TikTok’s results in particular were “a huge surprise to us” given that the platform has an outright ban political advertising.

In a statement, TikTok said it bans and prohibits election misinformation and paid political ads from its platform.

The company said: “We value feedback from NGOs, academics, and other experts which helps us continually strengthen our processes and policies.”

Facebook app
Facebook performed better at catching misinformation, the report found (AP)

Facebook’s systems detected and took down the majority of the ads Global Witness submitted for approval.

It said: “These reports were based on a very small sample of ads, and are not representative given the number of political ads we review daily across the world.

“Our ads review process has several layers of analysis and detection, both before and after an ad goes live.”

It added that it invests “significant resources” to protect elections.

YouTube, meanwhile, detected and took down all of the problematic ads, and even suspended the test account Global Witness set up to post the fake ads in question.

At the same time, however, the Alphabet-owned video platform did not detect any of the false or misleading election ads the group submitted for approval in Brazil.

Mr Lloyd said: “So that goes to show that there’s a real global discrepancy in their ability to enforce their own policies.”

He added: “The consequences of inaction could be disastrous for our democracies and our planet and our society in general.

“Increasing polarisation and all of that. I don’t know what it’s going to take for them to take it seriously.”

By Press Association

More Technology News

See more More Technology News

Pathology services provider Synnovis was the victim of a ransomware attack by a Russian cyber gang in June last year

Russian gang’s cyber attack on blood services ‘harmed 170 patients’

23andMe fined millions by watchdog after ‘profoundly damaging’ cyber attack exposing genetic data

23andMe fined millions by watchdog after ‘profoundly damaging’ cyber attack exposing genetic data

Scotland 2050 conference

‘Destructive’ social media will transform politics ‘for a generation’ – Forbes

View of Centre Court full of spectators watching a game at Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis Club Championships. Wimbledon.

Wimbledon adopts AI for 2025 Championships with All England club introducing in-match analysis

Th new feature that lets you and a friend pair up and match with other pairs

Tinder launches 'double date' feature in bid to attract 'low pressure' Gen Z

An avocado bathroom suite built in the 70's.

Young homeowners ‘favour avocado bathrooms, relaxation zones and panelled walls’

Meta to introduce ads on WhatsApp as US tech giant reverses ‘no ads’ stance on world’s most popular messaging app

Meta to introduce ads on WhatsApp as US tech giant reverses ‘no ads’ stance on world’s most popular messaging app

Captain Cook's legendary ship has been discovered

Mystery of Captain Cook's lost ship solved after 250 years as scientists discover exact location of the HMS Endeavour

The ancient lost world was discovered in East Antarctica.

Lost world unearthed beneath Antarctica ice after 34 million years

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly during the British-Irish Council (BIC) summit at the Slieve Donard resort in C

Leaders share healthcare and efficiency hopes for AI at British-Irish Council

Three and Vodafone

VodafoneThree promises better coverage at ‘no extra cost’ within months

The Khankhuuluu species weighed 750 kilograms, about the size of a horse

Newly discovered ‘Dragon Prince’ dinosaur rewrites history of T.rex

Aviation technology company Sita said 33.4 million bags were mishandled in 2024, compared with 33.8 million during the previous year.

Airlines lose fewer bags as tracking tech takes off as bosses say passengers expect similar service to a 'delivery app'

Social media app icons displayed on an Apple iPhone

Social media giants can ‘get on’ and tackle fraud cases, says City watchdog

Experts have warned about the risks posed by period tracking apps (Alamy/PA)

Experts warn of risks linked to period tracker apps

Data (Use and Access) Bill

Lords’ objections to Data Bill over copyright threatens its existence – minister