The updates appear to higher align with what US officers could want, with reference to its moderation strategy, whereas TikTok additionally notes that its Neighborhood Ideas are additionally primarily based on its ‘dedication to uphold human rights, and align with worldwide authorized frameworks’.

That looks like a reasonably pointed solution to distance itself from doubtlessly totally different approaches on such in mainland China.

As per TikTok:

“To tell probably the most complete updates to our Neighborhood Pointers thus far, we consulted greater than 100 organizations all over the world, together with our US Content material Advisory Council, and members of our neighborhood. Their enter helped us strengthen our guidelines and reply to new threats and potential harms.”

The primary adjustments to TikTok’s coverage are within the artificial media part, which now clearly states that AI creations depicting life like scenes have to be labeled as such.

“We welcome the creativity that new synthetic intelligence (AI) and different digital applied sciences could unlock. Nevertheless, AI could make it tougher to tell apart between reality and fiction, carrying each societal and particular person dangers. Artificial media or manipulated that reveals life like scenes have to be clearly disclosed. This may be executed by means of using a sticker or caption, corresponding to ‘artificial’, ‘faux’, ‘not actual’, or ‘altered’.”

TikTok’s artificial media coverage additionally states that AI depictions of personal residents will not be allowed, whereas depictions of public figures are allowed, as long as they don’t seem to be used to endorse merchandise or in any other case violate the platform’s insurance policies.

With using generative AI instruments on the rise, TikTok’s trying to get on the entrance foot, whereas additionally offering clear tips that defend politicians from misrepresentation by way of this way.

TikTok has additionally added ‘tribe’ as a protected attribute in its hate speech and hateful conduct coverage, offering extra culturally delicate consideration, whereas it’s additionally added new, particular guidelines for shielding authorities and political get together accounts, and combating election misinformation.

There’s clearly a tilt in the direction of benefiting and defending politicians right here – the individuals that can finally be voting on a TikTok ban – whereas the updates, total, align with rising utilization behaviors and tendencies, offering extra methods for TikTok to crack down on misuse.

Along with this, TikTok says that it’s additionally overhauled the way it presents its guidelines, with sections now separated thematically into totally different matter areas.

TikTok has additionally shared the 4 pillars of its moderation strategy:

1. Take away violative content material
2. Age-restrict mature content material so it’s only seen by adults (18 years or older)
3. Make content material ineligible for suggestion within the For You feed that is not applicable for a broad viewers
4. Empower our neighborhood with data instruments and assets to remain accountable for their expertise

The updates are clearly an effort to higher ingratiate TikTok with US regulators, by aligning with the important thing ache factors which were recognized as issues by US officers. The updates additionally additional separate TikTok from the principles utilized within the Chinese language model of the app, Douyin, which, ideally, will assist to indicate that TikTok is a separate entity, and isn’t dictated by Chinese language administration.

And total, the brand new Neighborhood Pointers are simpler to grasp – so whereas it does really feel like a ploy to enchantment to US officers, it’s a very good replace both approach, which ought to assist customers higher perceive the platform’s guidelines.

TikTok’s new Neighborhood Pointers will take impact from the twenty first April, 2023. You may take a look at the total, up to date Neighborhood Pointers doc right here.