TikTok announced that it will soon implement a new rule under which it will label video content originating from government-controlled media.
Launching from The Verge, Monday (7/3/2022) this labeling will be seen globally but will be tested first. This rule has actually been prepared by TikTok since last year, but due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine since last February, TikTok will also speed up this labeling rule.
It's not clear when the labeling of media video content will be enforced, TikTok said it is hoped that this labeling will appear in the coming days.
A TikTok spokesperson told The Verge via email that the label will be applied to at least some Russian state media accounts. However, TikTok did not provide details on how many media accounts were given the label.
The Verge also confirmed that at least one Russian state-controlled media, Russia Today (RT), already has a verified account on TikTok.
Many social media platforms have had similar labels for a while as YouTube added it in 2018 and Twitter and Facebook started implementing it in 2020.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many platforms moved against content from Russian state-controlled media such as RT and Sputnik.
Reddit has banned links to the media and Facebook and YouTube have blocked their content in Europe as TikTok has.
In response to the actions of these technology companies, the Russian government also acted by announcing the blocking of Facebook at its borders.
According to them, Facebook has discriminated against Russian media and information sources. Russia's Communications Agency is also demanding answers from TikTok about why certain stories from state news agencies were removed.