Observed Signal · Jan 27, 2026 · Regulation · Source: Trending Topics · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Negative
TikTok Faces Upload Outage and Censorship Allegations After US Restructure
TikTok is facing backlash after announcing a joint venture for its US business. Sensor Tower reports that daily app uninstalls in the US rose almost 150% within five days. Adam Presser, previously TikTok's Head of Operations, was named CEO of TikTok USDS. Creators reported upload failures, with influencer Nadya Okamoto unable to post for about 24 hours; TikTok attributed the issue to a data center power outage. Separately, users allege political censorship, including suppressed posts critical of President Trump and ICE. CNBC confirmed that direct messages containing the word 'Epstein' triggered an error message. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced an investigation into potential suppression of content critical of Trump. TikTok says such videos remain available and that it does not ban the Epstein name.
TikTok is one of the largest social and advertising platforms; a sharp rise in US uninstalls and censorship investigations could impact its ad inventory, audience reach, and advertiser trust.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- TikTok's daily US uninstall rate rose nearly 150% over the past five days, according to Sensor Tower.
- Adam Presser was appointed CEO of the TikTok USDS joint venture.
- Creator Nadya Okamoto reported a 24-hour inability to upload videos; TikTok blamed a data center power outage.
- CNBC confirmed that direct messages containing the word 'Epstein' triggered an error message.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom announced an investigation into alleged suppression of content critical of President Trump and ICE.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mapped“TikTok steht in der Kritik: Sowohl technische Ausfälle als auch Zensurvorwürfe setzen der Social-Media-Plattform zu....”
“Laut Marktforschungsunternehmen Sensor Tower ist die tägliche Löschrate in den USA in den vergangenen fünf Tagen um fast 150 Prozent gestieg...”
“CNBC konnte bestätigen, dass Direktnachrichten mit dem Wort „Epstein“ eine Fehlermeldung auslösten....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
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