California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Monday that his office is launching an investigation into allegations that TikTok has censored content critical of former President Donald Trump.
The Democrat, one of Trump’s most vocal critics, wrote on social media, “It’s time to investigate. I am launching a review into whether TikTok is violating state law by censoring Trump-critical content.”
The probe follows TikTok’s recent restructuring of its U.S. operations, creating a new joint venture that reduces Chinese ownership to 19.9% and shifts majority control to American businesses, including investors aligned with Trump. Washington has long expressed national security concerns over TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance.
Newsom’s office stated, “Following TikTok’s sale to a Trump-aligned business group, our office has received reports — and independently confirmed instances — of suppressed content critical of President Trump.”
As part of the investigation, Newsom shared a screenshot showing a TikTok user unable to send a message mentioning “epstein” on X because it violated the platform’s community guidelines. The issue has drawn attention due to Trump’s past association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
TikTok responded by attributing the issue to ongoing technical difficulties, asserting that there was no intentional suppression of content critical of Trump.
The governor’s review will examine whether the platform’s content moderation policies comply with state law and whether the change in U.S. ownership affected the visibility of political content. Newsom emphasized the need for transparency and fairness on platforms with substantial influence over public discourse.
“Tech companies have a responsibility to be transparent and fair in their practices,” Newsom said in a statement. “This investigation will ensure Californians’ voices are not being silenced based on political affiliation.”
Experts note that social media platforms are increasingly under scrutiny for content moderation practices, particularly around political topics. TikTok’s restructuring could raise new questions about influence and control, especially with U.S.-based investors now holding majority stakes.
The investigation adds to a broader national debate over how social media platforms handle political content, censorship claims, and ownership structures. It also follows previous attempts by federal regulators to address perceived risks tied to TikTok’s Chinese ownership.
The outcome of the review could have far-reaching consequences for TikTok and other platforms, potentially shaping policies around political content moderation and transparency in the U.S. digital market.
