Prior to the葡萄牙 legislative elections on May 18, TikTok has taken measures to combat fake accounts and false information, particularly in the country. The company announced that it had previously removed over 275 videos and deleted more than 45,000未经授权的企业账户 in Portugal.
TikTok’s broader strategy to enhance election integrity and access to accurate and trustworthy information continues to grow. Starting from April 14 to 27, the platform focused on identifying and removing content that violated its civic and electoral integrity policies, misinformation, and AI-generated content. According to its statement, over 98% of the content taken down in Portugal was removed before users even reported it.
Beyond content removal, TikTok claims it proactively blocked over 1.4 million fake likes, 942,000 fake follower requests, and over 7,400 attempts to create spam accounts in the country. These numbers highlight TikTok’s growing role in shaping elections and the increasing need for platforms to monitor and safeguard users’ information.
TikTok introduced a new in-app feature called the Electoral Center on April 18. This hub is designed to assist users in finding verified and officially relevant election-related information, including updates from Portugal’s Electoral Commission, key voting dates, and voting tips. Users are automatically directed to this central information page when they search for or interact with election terms or hashtags.
Additionally, TikTok has started tagging and categorizing content linked to elections to ensure platforms provide reliable updates. While the company remains committed to protecting its community and conveying facts during elections, it has also raised concerns about misinformation being inadvertently spread online, particularly on AI-generated content and bots.
Beyond Portugal, TikTok has launched a Global Election Integrity Hub to enhance transparency and safety across usability. This online platform offers insights into moderation decisions and provides tools for users to report suspicious activity during elections.
In Portugal, TikTok’s recent actions represent a positive step towards building trust among users and ensuring democracy. By introducing the Electoral Center and implementing stricter controls on false engagement, the platform aims to build a safe space for truthful communication.
Titanque also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between digital platforms and public institutions, as this partnership is key to fostering informed and voteable elections. With elections becoming more prevalent on social media, TikTok continues its proactive approach to ensuring users receive accurate and reliable information during these critical events.