TIKTOK, EC PARTNER TO SAFEGUARD PLATFORM INTEGRITY AHEAD OF SABAH POLLS

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- TikTok today announced a partnership with the Election Commission (EC) to safeguard the integrity of its platform ahead of the 17th Sabah state election.

TikTok said that under the collaboration, both organisations will work to protect users from misinformation and provide reliable, verified information about the voting process, including an in-app search guide offering official resources on the state election.

During the state polls, TikTok will work closely with the EC and fact-checkers to make authoritative information on voting and the election easily accessible to users.

“Advanced moderation technologies and thousands of safety professionals will help connect users with authoritative information while removing harmful content from the platform,” it said in a statement.

TikTok will also activate its in-app search guide, which will appear when users search for election-related content. By clicking the guide, users will be directed to a detailed page that reminds them of TikTok’s community guidelines and provides a link to the EC’s official website for verified election information, it said.

To further safeguard the integrity of election processes, TikTok engaged with experts on the Sabah state election as part of its ongoing collaboration with government agencies, civil society organisations and election watchdogs, including non-government bodies such as BERSIH, to ensure that its election policies continue to evolve in response to more complex threats and challenges.

TikTok Malaysia’s head of Public Policy, Firdaus Fadzil, said that through partnership with the EC, TikTok is committed to supporting and strengthening the integrity of the election process, which often spark active discussions amongst the community.

“During these civic processes, we remain focused on keeping our users safe and protecting the integrity of the TikTok platform.

“We do this by enforcing robust policies to prevent the spread of misinformation, enabling our in-app search guide, prohibiting political advertisements, elevating authoritative information from trusted sources, and collaborating with experts who help us evaluate and improve our approach,” he said in the same statement.

Meanwhile, EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun stressed that the commission remains committed to ensuring that Malaysians receive accurate, efficient and transparent information throughout the voting process.

“The EC strives to ensure that there are no elements that could create negative perceptions, doubts or mistrust on social media platforms. Collaborating with TikTok is a key step toward ensuring voters have access to authentic and timely information,” he said.

Ramlan said that through the partnership, EC reaffirms its commitment to promoting voter education and empowering public participation, enabling Malaysians to take part in the electoral process with confidence and enthusiasm.

In Malaysia, between the first quarter (Q1) of 2024 and the end of the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, TikTok removed more than 450,000 videos under its Integrity and Authenticity policies, including those related to misinformation, fake engagement, and civic and election integrity, with over 99 per cent of them removed proactively.

Additionally, TikTok prohibits political advertisements and does not allow accounts belonging to politicians, governments, or political parties to monetise content. The platform also bans the promotion of election-related material through paid advertisements.

“The only exception is for official entities overseeing elections which may run ads strictly limited to essential voter information such as how to vote, voter registration, or participation details,” TikTok said, adding that users are encouraged to report misleading content through the in-app reporting tool.

-- BERNAMA