Adedokun Waliyu 
California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a state investigation into allegations that TikTok censored content critical of US President Donald Trump, amid long-standing concerns in Washington over the platform’s national security implications.
Newsom, a Democrat and outspoken critic of Trump, announced the probe on Monday, saying the review would determine whether TikTok violated California law by suppressing Trump-critical material. His office said it had received reports and confirmed instances of such censorship following TikTok’s recent restructuring of its US operations.
Last week, TikTok announced the creation of a new joint venture to run its US business, reducing Chinese ownership by its Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, to 19.9 percent and handing majority control to American businesses, including some aligned with Trump. Newsom’s office claimed that after this change, certain politically sensitive content was restricted.
The governor shared an image allegedly showing a TikTok user blocked from sending a message containing the word “Epstein” for violating community guidelines, a reference linked to renewed scrutiny of Trump’s past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The probe comes as the US government continues to push for tighter oversight of TikTok over fears that ByteDance’s ties to China could pose security risks. TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
