TikTok Under Investigation After Quietly Censoring 'Epstein' From TikTok Messages Days After Trump-Ally Takeover

TikTok is facing scrutiny from government officials and digital rights advocates after thousands of users reported that the platform was preventing them from sending the word 'Epstein' in direct messages. This development surfaced shortly after its US business was transferred to a consortium of mostly American investors with close ties to President Donald Trump.

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a review of the situation, asserting that the pattern of user complaints could indicate unlawful suppression of content critical of political actors. His office cited reports and shared screenshots showing automated warnings when users attempted to send the name 'Epstein', a reference to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Users Report Blocked Messages Inconsistent With Known Policies

Users began reporting on social media and other platforms that direct messages containing the word 'Epstein' either failed to send or triggered an automatic warning stating the content 'may be in violation of our Community Guidelines' and would not be delivered.

Independent tests by news outlets and user accounts revealed inconsistencies: while some users could send the term without issue, others encountered blocks. TikTok said that the inconsistency was part of its ongoing investigation into technical anomalies, rather than the result of a deliberate policy change.

TikTok's official community guidelines, as publicly posted, do not list the mention of names like 'Epstein' as prohibited content, focusing instead on violence, hate speech, and sexually explicit material. As of now, there has been no formal update to TikTok's published rules signalling a new prohibition on the term.

The controversy around the blocking of the word has coincided with a broader set of reports from users that other content, including videos about immigration enforcement and politically sensitive events, was not posting correctly or was receiving no views, fuelling speculation about deeper algorithmic or moderation changes.

Ownership Change Preceded Complaints and Sparks Political Backlash

The timing of these reports is significant. On 22 January 2026, TikTok's US operations were officially transferred to a new majority US-owned entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, in a deal intended to avert a nationwide ban over national security concerns. The new venture is majority-owned by American investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, while ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, retains a minority stake.

TikTok's press announcement on the formation of the joint venture emphasised that the structure would enhance data protection, algorithm security, and content moderation within the United States, under a framework intended to reassure federal regulators.

But critics argue that the new ownership, particularly the involvement of Oracle, led by billionaire Larry Ellison, a known ally of President Trump, may introduce political influence into content governance.

While there is no direct evidence to show political interference, public sentiment and political reaction have been heightened, given the perceived proximity of new investors to the administration.

Political Officials Demand Transparency and Disclosure

Governor Newsom's announcement of a review was framed around concerns that TikTok might be violating California's social media transparency laws, particularly Assembly Bill 587, which requires large platforms to be transparent about content moderation policies and to report data on their enforcement.

AB 587, signed in 2022 and still in effect, obliges platforms with significant revenue to make their terms of service publicly available and to submit detailed reports on how they apply those terms, including processes for content takedowns or restrictions.

Newsom's office said its review would examine whether TikTok's conduct in this instance aligns with its statutory obligations.

The state's investigation may include requests for internal moderation logs, explanations for automated messaging behaviour, and other documentation from TikTok. There has been no public indication from TikTok that it will proactively provide such data beyond its stated investigation into the technical anomaly.

While TikTok's current issues are centred on technical failure claims, the broader pattern of user reports, political reaction, and regulatory scrutiny suggests that the company needs to provide clear evidence of process and non-discriminatory enforcement.

So far, TikTok has not issued a comprehensive public breakdown of how its automated systems treat specific terms, nor has it released moderation logs relevant to user complaints about the term 'Epstein'.