TikTok blocks accounts of journalists and political creators: moderation or covert censorship?

July 2, 2025 | By ContraCorriente Editorial Team

The social network TikTok, one of the world’s most influential platforms, is once again at the center of controversy after blocking more than 300 accounts belonging to journalists, activists, and political content creators in various Spanish-speaking countries. The company claims this move is part of an offensive against disinformation, but digital rights organizations argue that it represents a troubling case of systematic censorship.

Among those affected are independent journalists in Mexico, social activists in Argentina, and university professors in Spain who shared analyses or criticisms of political and economic issues. Many report that their accounts were suspended without prior notice and without a clear explanation from the platform, leaving them unable even to appeal.

“We posted a video about Argentina’s media law, and two hours later the account was suspended without warning. What part of that is ‘moderation’?” said Juan Pablo Ruiz, a censored digital communicator, in a thread on X (formerly Twitter) that quickly went viral.

This latest episode unfolds amid increasing pressure on TikTok from European and U.S. governments demanding stricter controls over false content and hate speech. However, critics and digital freedom experts warn that this supposed fight against disinformation is becoming an excuse to silence uncomfortable or ideologically dissenting voices.

According to reports from the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Reporters Without Borders, TikTok has begun applying more aggressive algorithmic filters that automatically remove posts deemed “sensitive,” even if they don’t violate any rules. The result: critical discourse, alternative opinions, and social denunciations disappear, while empty, commercial, or neutral content flourishes.

Some analysts suggest that TikTok is trying to clean up its image to avoid new bans or legal restrictions—especially in the U.S., where it faces multiple lawsuits over alleged surveillance, algorithmic manipulation, and ties to the Chinese government.

Are we witnessing a policy of responsible protection—or a form of selective digital censorship driven by geopolitical and commercial pressure?