TikTok restructures US ownership and tightens rules on Zionist rhetoric

In a strategic move to preempt a potential nationwide ban in the US, the social media platform TikTok restructured its ownership hierarchy on January 23.

Following intensifying pressure from the Washington administration regarding the platform’s control, management, and content moderation processes, the company’s majority stake has been transitioned into a structure rooted in US capital.

As a cornerstone of this transition, the establishment of TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC has effectively moved the platform’s US operations entirely under the jurisdiction of local management and oversight mechanisms.

“Zionist” expression classified as hate speech

According to statements by the new CEO, Adam Presser, the platform has significantly updated its content policies regarding the use of the term “Zionist.”

Presser specified that the term will now be classified directly as “hate speech” if it is used for the purposes of insult, disparagement, or targeting.

Conversely, the use of the word within a political context or for personal identity—such as the positive affirmation “I am a proud Zionist”—remains permitted under the revised rules.

Presser stated clearly that censorship mechanisms will be triggered if the word is deployed as a “slur” or a derogatory epithet.

“No finish line” in content moderation

In a video released by the World Jewish Congress (WJC), Presser described the activities conducted under the banner of combating hate speech as an indefinite process.

Noting that the number of accounts closed for “hateful activity” has tripled, Presser revealed that more than 20 Jewish organizations are providing the platform with continuous intelligence and information.

Emphasizing that these institutions coordinate with TikTok to identify trends in rule violations, the CEO highlighted the open-ended nature of these censorship policies, stating, “There is no finish line for moderating hate speech or identifying hate trends. There is no such thing as a final goal.”

Former Israeli soldier appointed to lead moderation policy

One of the most notable steps in TikTok’s content moderation strategy involves its recent personnel appointments.

In July last year, the platform’s US division appointed Erica Mindel—a former Israeli soldier who describes herself as a “proud Zionist”—as Head of Hate Speech Public Policy.

With this move, the process of defining and enforcing content rules has been entrusted to an individual with a background in the Israeli military, known for pro-Israel advocacy and experience in anti-Semitism policies within the US.

“Digital Iron Dome” and the control of the Gaza narrative

The shift in TikTok’s ownership and content moderation policies aligns with a strategic framework that Israeli officials have termed the “eighth front.”

This approach, dubbed the “Digital Iron Dome,” aims to control the digital narrative surrounding developments in Gaza and reduce the visibility of war crime allegations against Israel.

The activities carried out under this strategy include:

• The systematic removal of evidence related to the humanitarian crisis and military operations in Gaza.
• Flooding feeds with pro-Israel messaging via mass reporting mechanisms and AI-supported content operations.
• The marginalization of dissenting voices through the use of paid influencers and targeted advertisements.
• The institutionalization of censorship practices under the guise of “safety” and “content moderation.”