Story perspectives

California Investigates TikTok Over Censorship Claims

2/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced an investigation into TikTok for allegedly censoring content critical of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The announcement follows backlash from users, including Billie Eilish, the singer, who reported posting issues after TikTok's ownership shifted to a U.S.-based entity.
Users distrust due to new data collection policies and outages tied to a winter storm.
Upscrolled now competes with TikTok, claiming less censorship.

History

Historical Context

In 2020, the U.S. government pressured ByteDance to divest TikTok over national security concerns, reflecting rising distrust in social media, with 60% of Americans expressing skepticism about data privacy. This scrutiny follows a history of privacy violations, including a 2014 Pew survey revealing that 91% of Americans felt they lost control over their personal data, highlighting ongoing tensions in digital content regulation.

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Story summary

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced an investigation into TikTok for allegedly censoring content critical of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The announcement follows backlash from users, including Billie Eilish, the singer, who reported posting issues after TikTok's ownership shifted to a U.S.-based entity.
Users distrust due to new data collection policies and outages tied to a winter storm.
Upscrolled now competes with TikTok, claiming less censorship.

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