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## TikTok’s Tumultuous Week: Outage Hits US Amidst Ownership Shift and Censorship Claims
Just days after a monumental transfer of its American operations to a predominantly US-based investment group, TikTok was plunged into widespread service disruptions across the United States. This significant outage left millions of users unable to upload, view, or engage with content, quickly igniting a firestorm of speculation and controversy regarding the app’s new direction.
### A Cloud of Technical Glitches and Suspicion
The timing of the outage, mere moments after TikTok’s US business officially transitioned, immediately raised eyebrows. For many users, the technical problems weren’t just inconvenient; they fueled suspicions that the app’s new custodians might be deliberately suppressing certain types of content. Notably, a surge of concern focused on videos discussing political matters, particularly those related to recent federal immigration actions in Minnesota. TikTok, however, has vehemently denied any such allegations, attributing the widespread issues to a simple power outage.
### Users Report a Digital Standstill
Reports of disruptions began to flood in on Sunday. Users across the US found themselves locked out of core functionalities, struggling to upload new videos or even access previously posted content. Others noted a drastic decline in their usual view counts and engagement metrics, prompting theories of algorithmic interference rather than a mere technical hiccup.
Downdetector, the real-time service disruption tracker, corroborated these user reports, indicating a significant spike in outage complaints starting early yesterday morning. An alert from Downdetector on Monday confirmed, “Our data suggests that services are not yet fully restored for all users,” underscoring the ongoing nature of the problem.
### Censorship Allegations Spark Debate
The idea of selective content suppression gained traction when prominent figures encountered difficulties. Steve Vladeck, a law professor at Georgetown University, shared his experience on Bluesky: “I recorded a video on TikTok about why DHS’s arguments for the power to enter homes without judicial warrants in immigration cases are bunk. Nine hours later, TikTok still says my video is ‘under review,’ and can’t be shared.” This firsthand account from an expert discussing a politically sensitive topic added considerable weight to user concerns.
The technical snafus also captured the attention of Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy. Taking to Bluesky, Murphy expressed grave concern: “I know it’s hard to track all the threats to democracy out there right now, but this is at the top of the list.” When approached for further comment, a spokesperson for Senator Murphy confirmed his office had nothing beyond his public statement, allowing his initial sentiment to stand.
### TikTok’s Official Stance: A Power Outage at a US Data Center
In response to the mounting public scrutiny and widespread user frustration, TikTok issued an official statement. Via a newly established X account linked to its US-controlled entity, the company declared the service disruption was the result of “a power outage at a US data center.” A TikTok spokesperson later confirmed the authenticity of this new X account to WIRED.
When directly confronted with user claims of content censorship, the spokesperson firmly reiterated that it would be “inaccurate to describe the problem as anything other than a technical issue” and pointed back to the company’s public confirmation on X. They also acknowledged that, temporarily, new TikTok posts might face delays in publication and circulation by the app’s recommendation algorithm. The company stated it is actively collaborating with its data center partner to restore full service as quickly as possible, though an estimated time for complete functionality remains elusive.
### The Oracle Connection and Broader Context
Oracle, which holds a 15 percent stake in TikTok’s new US entity, has been responsible for hosting the app’s US user data since 2022. The company opted not to comment on the ongoing outage. While unconfirmed, some speculation has linked the power disruption to a powerful winter storm that has recently swept across large parts of the US, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity.
### The Shadow of New Ownership: Algorithmic Concerns
The recent ownership transfer, which saw TikTok complete the divestiture of its US operations last week, forms a crucial backdrop to these events. Last Thursday, the company announced the formation of TikTok USDS Joint Venture. This new corporate entity was established to comply with a 2024 law mandating TikTok to separate from its Chinese ownership – a law upheld by the US Supreme Court but repeatedly deferred until now.
In its announcement, TikTok revealed that the USDS Joint Venture would “retrain, test, and update the content recommendation algorithm on US user data.” This declaration, intended to reassure compliance, ironically amplified existing anxieties among American TikTok users. Many now worry that the app’s new owners could subtly manipulate this powerful algorithm to prioritize or suppress specific types of content, subtly influencing what millions of Americans see and engage with. The recent outage, irrespective of its cause, has undoubtedly intensified these already simmering concerns about the platform’s future.