Chinese video app TikTok is set to join the European Union’s voluntary code of conduct to combat illegal hate speech online, the European Commission said.
Social media platforms have come under pressure recently from governments worldwide to do more to tackle online hate speech and disinformation, which have been blamed for helping to fuel a wave of racist attacks in several countries.
The Commission set up the code of conduct in 2016 where tech companies work in coordination with civil society groups and public authorities to remove online hate speech.
Commission Vice President for values and transparency Vera Jourova said the new addition to a group was a “positive step”.
“It’s good that TikTok joined the code, a company favoured by young users who are particularly vulnerable to online abuse and illegal hate speech,” she said in a statement.
