A TikTok feature that allows users to add another person’s audio to their videos is being used to promote misleading and harmful content about COVID-19 vaccines, a think tank said in a new report.
The London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue analyzed 124 videos that used speech from four original TikTok videos, including two that were removed by the company for breaking its COVID misinformation rules, to push misinformation and stoke fears about vaccine side-effects. The 124 videos had more than 20 million views.
“There’s a part of the content which is still able to travel,” said Ciaran O’Connor, an analyst at the counter-extremism think tank. He likened the spread of misinformation though TikTok’s “Sounds” feature to WhatsApp audio messages that proliferated during the pandemic.
Viral trends where users create their own videos by riffing off the same music or speech clip are a central part of TikTok. The popular social video platform, which saw explosive growth during the pandemic, said it reviews the audio of rule-breaking videos and may prevent these being used as Sounds by other users. It said these cases were caused by human content moderation errors. It also said Sounds can be reported on the app.
Audio from one video of a user implying the COVID vaccine’s fast development made it unsafe and making misleading comparisons to other illnesses has been used in more than 4,500 videos, ISD found.
TikTok said it had previously limited the distribution of videos using this Sound, rather than remove it completely, as it was only deemed to be potentially misleading. Even so, the top 25 videos on the TikTok page for this Sound have been viewed a total of 16.7 million times.
ISD found many of the videos used the Sound to signal support for the statement. TikTok said it took down some of the videos using the Sound and made the Sound more difficult to find in searches after reviewing the report’s findings. It removed the three other Sounds identified in the report.
“We strive to promote an authentic TikTok experience by limiting the spread of misleading content, including audio, and promoting authoritative information about COVID-19 and vaccines across our app,” a TikTok spokesperson said.
ISD found the app had added labels directing to authoritative COVID information on only two of the 124 videos. The company said this was because labels were only added on videos with specific hashtags.
TikTok last week announced changes to its content-moderation systems for certain content, moving to fully automated reviewing systems for categories like nudity and violent or graphic material.
TikTok Sounds used to spread COVID vaccine misinformation: think tank
https://arab.news/vm4q5
TikTok Sounds used to spread COVID vaccine misinformation: think tank
- TikTok sound feature is being used to promote misleading and harmful content about COVID-19 vaccines
- TikTok had limited the distribution of videos using this specific Sound, rather than remove it completely, as it was only deemed to be potentially misleading
Academy apologizes after stars say it ‘failed to defend’ Palestinian filmmaker
- Hamdan Ballal was assaulted this week by settlers and detained at gunpoint by soldiers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank
- “No Other Land” chronicles the forced displacement of Palestinians by Israeli troops and settlers in Masafer Yatta in the West Bank
LOS ANGELES: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences apologized Friday for failing to defend an Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker who said he was attacked by Israeli settlers.
The group, which hosts and awards the Oscars each year, wrote to members after movie stars including Joaquin Phoenix, Penelope Cruz and Richard Gere had slammed its initially muted response to the incident.
The Academy “condemns violence of this kind anywhere in the world” and its leaders “abhor the suppression of free speech under any circumstances,” said the letter, seen by AFP.
Hamdan Ballal co-directed “No Other Land,” which won best documentary at this year’s Academy Awards.
This week, he said he had been assaulted by settlers and detained at gunpoint by soldiers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Unlike multiple other prominent filmmaker groups, the US-based Academy initially did not issue a statement.
On Wednesday, it sent a letter to members that condemned “harming or suppressing artists for their work or their viewpoints,” without naming Ballal.
By Friday morning, more than 600 Academy members had signed their own statement in response.
“It is indefensible for an organization to recognize a film with an award in the first week of March, and then fail to defend its filmmakers just a few weeks later,” the members said.
“We stand in condemnation of the brutal assault and unlawful detention of Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal by settlers and Israeli forces in the West Bank,” they wrote.
The Academy leadership’s response “fell far short of the sentiments this moment calls for,” said the members.
The Los Angeles-based group’s board convened an extraordinary meeting Friday to confront the deepening crisis, according to trade outlet Deadline.
Later Friday, it issued an apology to Ballal “and all artists who felt unsupported by our previous statement.”
“We regret that we failed to directly acknowledge Mr. Ballal and the film by name,” it wrote.
“No Other Land” chronicles the forced displacement of Palestinians by Israeli troops and settlers in Masafer Yatta — an area Israel declared a restricted military zone in the 1980s.
Despite winning the coveted Oscar, the film has struggled to find a major US distributor.
Following Monday’s incident, Ballal told AFP the “brutality” of the attack “made me feel it was because I won the Oscar.”
During his detention at an Israeli military center, Ballal said he noticed soldiers mentioning his name alongside the word “Oscar” during shift changes.
He was released Tuesday, after being detained the previous day for allegedly “hurling rocks.”
Yuval Abraham, who also co-directed and appears in the documentary, has spoken out against the Academy’s response.
“After our criticism, the academy’s leaders sent out this email to members explaining their silence on Hamdan’s assault: they need to respect ‘unique viewpoints’,” he wrote on X, sharing a screenshot of the Academy’s letter.
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Warner Bros. Discovery investment in OSN Streaming signals broader industry shift, says CEO
- Middle East ‘no longer a peripheral market’ — Joe Kawkabani
DUBAI: Warner Bros. Discovery this week announced a minority investment in OSN Streaming in a move that “reinforces its commitment to the region’s rapidly growing streaming landscape.”
The deal is reportedly valued at $57 million for a third of OSN Streaming. It will take place in phases and is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals.
Joe Kawkabani, OSN’s group CEO, said the deal “signals a broader shift in the industry” as global players recognize “that substantial growth in the Middle East and North Africa region requires more than just exporting content.”
He told Arab News: “It’s about investing in local platforms, collaborating with regional talent, and tailoring content specifically to the market. That’s precisely what we’re doing here, and I believe it sets a new standard for successful partnerships in the region.”
Warner Bros. Discovery opened its first office in the region in Dubai in 2012. The investment reflects its “prioritization of working with the best creative talent, advancing technologies and forging key partnerships to fuel continued growth.”
It also serves as an opportunity for the company to “deepen their regional presence through a trusted platform that truly understands the market's nuances,” Kawkabani said.
The two companies have had a long-standing history, with OSN being the exclusive home for HBO content in the region. Just last year, OSN acquired the rights to all first-run Max Originals and the full Warner Bros. Pictures feature film library as part of a multi-year deal.
Jamie Cooke, executive vice president and managing director for Central Europe, Turkey and Middle East, at Warner Bros. Discovery said this was a “natural step” for the company, as “OSN has been a great partner and custodian of our content.”
He added: “We recognize that alongside enjoying the latest global hits, regional audiences also want stories from and about the region that reflect their own cultures and experiences.”
Kawkabani highlighted the importance of the MENA market on the global map.
He said: “It is no longer a peripheral market — it’s becoming central to the future of streaming. Our role is to drive this transformation from within the region, not just import it from the outside.”
Saudi Arabia has emerged as a key player in the region’s media and entertainment industry. In 2018, the Kingdom announced it would invest $64 billion in its entertainment sector over the coming decade. Since then, it has implemented several initiatives and investments to bolster these sectors.
Most recently, in January, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority unveiled 29 investment opportunities aimed at expanding the entertainment landscape while fostering private sector participation and aligning with Vision 2030 objectives.
Saudi Arabia is “one of the most exciting and dynamic entertainment markets in the world right now” and the deal “aligns seamlessly with Saudi Arabia’s broader vision for its entertainment sector — one that prioritizes creativity, local talent, and global collaboration,” said Kawkabani.
“We view Saudi Arabia not just as a key market but as a creative hub that can lead the region forward,” he added.
Going forward, the deal will see the two companies invest in “high-quality, locally produced content, ensuring a richer and more diverse offering for viewers,” according to Cooke.
For OSN, Kawkabani said it wasn’t just about content licensing or capital, but rather about “two companies aligning on a vision to sustainably grow the regional streaming market in a way that resonates locally.”
He added: “We’re not here to follow trends; we’re here to shape them.”
Majority of listeners tune in to Spotify during Ramadan’s pre-dawn hours
- Spiritual, peaceful and relaxing audio is the most popular choice during Ramadan, with listenership of such playlists increasing by more than 3,000 percent in the first two weeks.
DUBAI: Streaming and content consumption habits change as audiences adjust to different routines during Ramadan, according to new data from Spotify.
This year saw a return of the streaming platform’s Ramadan Hub, with a specially curated selection of playlists, music and podcasts.
Based on an analysis of customers’ streaming habits during the first two weeks of Ramadan, Spotify found the majority of Saudi listeners tune in at around 3 a.m. Spiritual, peaceful and relaxing audio is the most popular choice, with listenership of such playlists increasing by more than 3,000 percent.
“With the Ramadan Hub, Spotify continues to be a companion for every moment of the holy month,” Mark Abou Jaoude, the platform’s head of music for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan told Arab News.
The playlist with the highest increase in listeners (3,750 percent) was “Duaa,” which features prayers and supplications. Similarly, “Ramadaniyat,” which features traditional Islamic songs, saw a streaming rise of almost 1,890 percent.
Users’ love of TV dramas is reflected in their streaming habits with the “Titrat Ramadan” playlist recording a 2,900 percent increase in streams. This features songs that appear in popular shows at this time, known as “titrat” and traditionally sung by Arab pop stars.
Another playlist gaining popularity is “Cooking Time,” which saw the number of streams increase by 743 percent. This serves as a cooking companion and features songs such as Nancy Ajram’s “Aam Betaala’ Feek,” Marwan Khoury’s “Kel El Qasayed” and Amr Diab’s “El Kalam Leek.”
“Over the past two years, local podcast listening hours have increased by nearly 90 percent (on Spotify),” Abou Jaoude said.
Spotify has also seen significant increases in the popularity of local podcasts such as “Finjan with Abdul Rahman Abu Maleh” and “Sawalif Business.” Users are also listening to lighter entertainment content, such as “Kanabat al-Sabt,” “Saturday Couch” and the “Abjoorah Podcast,” as well as religious shows like the “Omam Podcast,” which puts a modern spin on the stories of prophets.
“These shifting listening habits reflect the growing trend of audio in setting the atmosphere for these shared experiences during the month,” said Abou Jade.
“It’s great to see how our Saudi listeners use Spotify to enrich their Ramadan journey and deepen their connections during this meaningful time.”
‘No Other Land’ co-director criticizes Oscars organizers for response to Hamdan Ballal assault
- Yuval Abraham accuses academy of failing to directly acknowledge incident, mention Ballal by name
- In a letter, the academy said that while it ‘condemns harming or suppressing artists for their work or their viewpoints,’ it does not publicly comment on ‘social, political, and economic events’
LONDON: “No Other Land” co-director Yuval Abraham has condemned the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its response to the violent attack on his Palestinian co-director, Hamdan Ballal.
The Israeli filmmaker and journalist accused the academy of failing to directly acknowledge the incident, noting that its statement did not mention Ballal by name.
This marks the second time this week that Abraham has publicly criticized the academy. Earlier, he denounced the institution for remaining silent on the attack, in which Israeli settlers assaulted Ballal before he was detained by Israeli forces in the West Bank on Monday.
“After our criticism, the academy’s leaders sent out this email to members explaining their silence on Hamdan’s assault: they need to respect ‘unique viewpoints,’” Abraham wrote on X.
The academy’s letter stated that while it “condemns harming or suppressing artists for their work or their viewpoints,” it does not publicly comment on “social, political, and economic events” despite frequent requests to do so. “In these instances, it is important to note that the Academy represents close to 11,000 global members with many unique viewpoints,” the statement read.
Abraham pointed out the contrast between this response and the academy’s past actions, specifically its strong condemnation of Iran’s detention of filmmakers such as Jafar Panahi in 2011. “Compare this,” he wrote, “which didn’t even name Hamdan, to the Academy’s rightfully strong position when it’s the Iranian government oppressing filmmakers.”
The academy has yet to issue a further response.
Ballal, one of the documentary’s four directors — two Israeli and two Palestinian — was released from Israeli detention on Tuesday.
In an interview with The Guardian, he described his ordeal, saying, “I thought I was going to die” when Israeli soldiers aided the settlers who attacked him outside his home in Susya, a village in the Masafer Yatta area of the West Bank.
He also claimed he was beaten while in detention, calling the assault “revenge for our movie.”
The global film community swiftly condemned the attack and arrest. The US-based International Documentary Association posted a message on Instagram demanding Ballal’s immediate release. The Berlin Film Festival, where “No Other Land” had its premiere and won the award for best documentary last year, called the incident “very distressing.”
Iraq imposes new fees on social media influencers in latest crackdown on digital content
- Content creators now required to register annually and pay fees of up to $760 based on follower counts
- Authorities say regulations will create a more responsible digital media culture; critics argue framework is too vague
LONDON: The Communications and Media Commission in Iraq has introduced new rules requiring digital content creators, including social media influencers, to register annually and pay fees based on their follower counts.
“The regulation aims to establish a framework that sets clear standards and procedures for digital content and advertising on social media platforms,” Haider Najm Al-Alaq, a spokesperson for the commission, told the Iraqi News Agency.
The primary goal is to “ensure transparency, credibility and public protection from unprofessional promotional content,” he added.
The new rules apply to bloggers, influencers and public figures with significant online followings. The aim is to align digital content with Iraqi laws, curb “misleading or unethical advertisements,” and offer legal protections for registered influencers, the commission said. They will also help to safeguard vulnerable groups, it added, including women, children and people with special needs.
The annual registration fees range from 250,000 to 1 million Iraqi dinars ($190 to $760), with influencers who have more than 5 million followers paying the highest amount. The commission said the regulations will be enforced through a monitoring system.
Al-Alaq said influencers will be required to adhere to specific standards for content, including “respect for national sovereignty,” avoidance of material that “damages Iraq’s position or foreign relations,” and support for security institutions in their counterterrorism efforts. They must also refrain from posting material that could incite violence or sectarianism, and provide a right of response for individuals affected by their content.
However, Iraqi journalism rights groups, content creators and media experts criticized the new regulations. They described the framework as vague, and raised concerns about its legal basis and potential for misuse. They also warned that the law will do little to regulate content quality and instead serve simply as a tool for generating revenue.
“This decision is sudden, illogical and baffling,” Iraqi journalist and blogger Omar Al-Janabi wrote in a message posted on social media platform X.
“It does not distinguish between commercial advertising and political commentary, nor between platforms. A journalist posting news on X is treated the same as a YouTube influencer selling skin cream.”
The new regulations follow a broader crackdown on what Iraqi authorities describe as “indecent content,” an effort that has intensified in the past year.
On Aug. 22, authorities arrested Raghad Mohammed Ghali Jabr Al-Janabi, a 22-year-old TikToker known online as “Natalie,” in Baghdad for allegedly promoting indecent material. Several other influencers, including Aned Khaled (nickname “Hassahs”), Ruqayya Rahim and Aya Al-Shammari were detained the same month under Article 403 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which criminalizes the production or distribution of content deemed to violate public decency. Those convicted under the law face fines and up to two years in prison.
The crackdown comes amid growing concern about the safety of social media personalities in Iraq. In April 2024, popular influencer Om Fahad was shot dead outside her home in Baghdad. The killing, the third in a string of violent attacks targeting online celebrities, sparked a nationwide debate about content regulation and online safety.
