California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched an investigation into TikTok, claiming the platform has been suppressing content critical of former President Donald Trump. This announcement followed TikTok’s recent sale to a U.S. ownership group aligned with Trump. Newsom’s press office confirmed there were reports of suppressed content that criticized Trump and his policies. He shared his concerns on X, saying, “It’s time to investigate,” along with a screenshot of a blocked message about Jeffrey Epstein.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is investigating TikTok for allegedly suppressing anti-Trump content following its sale to a Trump-aligned ownership group.
The investigation comes after TikTok finalized a $14-billion deal to create a new entity called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, which is majority-American owned. This deal, backed by Trump supporters, averted a nationwide ban on the platform. The new ownership group now controls TikTok’s algorithms, code, and content moderation. Reports confirmed by Newsom’s office indicate instances of suppressed content. The investigation will assess the legality of these practices under state law.
Reports have surfaced showing that videos criticizing Trump and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have received zero or very few views. Creators reported their materials were flagged for review or throttled after the sale. For instance, videos by popular creator Preston Stewart vanished or showed no views despite having 1.3 million followers.
Frustration among content creators and users is growing. State Senator Scott Wiener’s video about suing ICE received no views, while CNN videos also suffered low view counts. Many see this as a deliberate effort to suppress anti-Trump content.
In response to the allegations, TikTok cited a U.S. data center power outage that caused several issues, including zero views and slower load times. However, there has been no public response from TikTok USDS regarding the censorship claims.
Governor Newsom’s investigation will determine if TikTok violated California state laws related to content censorship. The focus will be on the suppression of content that is critical of Trump, especially after the recent sale. The investigation aims to address broader concerns about the platform’s impact on free speech and content visibility.
