TikTok tried to remove videos from ugly, poor users

According to a TikTok spokesperson, these guidelines are there to prevent bullying

Chinese video-sharing social networking service TikTok told its moderators to clear posts with “ugly facial looks” or from people who shot videos in “slums” or “dilapidated housing” and prevent them being promoted to its widely viewed “For You” section, according to new documents published by the Intercept.

The document highlights how moderators of the app are given guidelines to pick content for the influential “For You” feed, a  timeline that is the first thing most users see as soon as they launch the app.

The “For You” option can redirect a lot of traffic to a video but the selection criteria have always been left discreet.

Videos containing “abnormal body shape (not limited to: dwarf, acromegaly),” who are “chubby … obese or too thin” or who have “ugly facial looks or facial deformities” were told to be taken down, according to the document.

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“If the character’s appearance is not good, the video will be much less attractive, not worthing [sic] to be recommended to new users.”

Similarly, the documents show, videos were to be removed from the feed if “the shooting environment is shabby and dilapidated”, since “this kind of environment is … less fancy and appealing”.

According to a TikTok spokesperson, these steps were taken to prevent bullying.



“The live stream guidelines in question appear to be largely the same or similar to the guidelines the Guardian already reported on last year, which were removed both before the Guardian’s reporting and also prior to when the Intercept says the document was accessed. Over the past year, we have established trust and safety hubs in California, Dublin, and Singapore, which oversee the development and execution of our moderation policies and are headed by industry experts with extensive experience in these areas. Local teams apply the updated community guidelines that we published in January, all aimed at keeping TikTok a place of open self-expression and a safe environment for users and creators alike,” said the company in a statement.

“Most of the guidelines the Intercept presented are either no longer in use, or in some cases appear to have never been in place, but it is correct that for live streaming TikTok is particularly vigilant about keeping.”

The article originally published on The Guardian.