An analysis of TikTok’s public data reveals that the social media platform received more content removal requests from Australia and New Zealand than from Iraq in the first half of 2023.
From January to June 2023, Australia issued 470 requests for content removal, while New Zealand made 215 requests. Comparatively, Iraq submitted only five requests during the same timeframe. Russia and Bangladesh were the top requesters, with 792 and 474 requests, respectively.
Per capita, Australia and New Zealand are still at the forefront, with 5.35 and 4.06 removal requests per 100,000 people, respectively. This contrasts sharply with Jordan, which despite recent laws against certain online expressions, only filed 64 requests, equivalent to a per capita rate of 0.56.
Countries known for strict control over free speech, like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Saudi Arabia, ranked much lower in the list. The United States, in per capita terms, was near the bottom, with only 11 requests issued. By sheer number, Egypt had the fewest with just two requests, followed by Romania and South Africa with one each.
TikTok reported receiving no requests from China or Myanmar, both recognized for their authoritarian governments, nor from India, one of the most populous nations in the world.
In response to these findings, the Free Speech Union of Australia, currently petitioning to dismantle the office of the eSafety Commissioner, expressed concerns. Reuben Kirkham, Co-Director of the Union, highlighted the potential for Australia to adopt stricter content regulation practices, comparing it unfavorably with regimes in less democratic countries.
Kirkham warned, “If this happens, then we would be in poor company, at least for a democratic society. This is one of the many reasons that we consider the eSafety regime should be abolished.”
