U.S. Senators Demand Answers from TikTok Over Safeguard-Disabling Experiment
A group of U.S. senators has called on TikTok to explain a company experiment that temporarily deactivated user safety features.
According to reports, TikTok conducted an internal test that turned off safeguards meant to prevent users from being overwhelmed by harmful content. The apparent goal was to measure whether these protections made the app less engaging for users.
The senators are seeking clarification on several points, including the scope of the experiment, how many users were affected, and what data the company collected during the test period. Lawmakers have raised concerns about the ethical implications of experimenting with user wellbeing without explicit consent.
TikTok has not yet publicly detailed the specifics of the experiment or responded to the senators' inquiries. The company has previously faced scrutiny over content moderation practices and data privacy concerns in multiple countries.