TikTok Cites Moderator Error for Slow Response to Perez Hilton Livestream
TikTok stated that a "moderator error" delayed its response to a livestream by Perez Hilton where he appeared to self-harm. The platform notified law enforcement and banned Hilton's account.
TikTok has acknowledged that a "moderator error" delayed the removal of a livestream that appeared to show blogger Perez Hilton harming himself. A spokesperson for TikTok US confirmed that the platform notified law enforcement about the situation and subsequently banned Hilton's account for violating community guidelines.
Perez Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., is known for his celebrity gossip blog, launched in 2004. He frequently posted images of celebrities with his own, often offensive or cruel, drawings overlaid.
While some users claimed Hilton's livestream aired for over 30 minutes, a TikTok spokesperson disputed this duration. The company confirmed a moderation error occurred but did not provide further details regarding the nature or length of the mistake.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges for social media platforms in promptly addressing potentially harmful content. TikTok has been increasing its efforts to improve content moderation in recent years amid user growth and public scrutiny.