TikTok Removes 16.5 Million Videos in 5 Arab Countries in 3 Months

Tuesday 5 August 2025 14:07

TikTok revealed that it removed approximately 16.5 million violating videos from five Arab countries between January and March 2025, an indicator that reflects the effectiveness of the platform's technical and human moderation systems in the region.

In its Community Guidelines Enforcement Report for the first quarter of 2025, the platform highlighted its ongoing efforts to foster a safe and inclusive digital environment in the Middle East and North Africa, including Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, and Morocco.

Stricter Controls on Live Broadcasting

In parallel, the platform removed more than 19 million violating live broadcasts globally during the same period, a 50% increase compared to the previous quarter, reflecting the development of early detection tools for violations.

In the Arab countries covered by the report, TikTok banned nearly 850,000 live streamers and suspended 1.5 million live streams for violating guidelines, as part of its efforts to strengthen safety policies for live content.

Egypt: 2.9 Million Videos Removed

Egypt recorded the removal of 2.9 million violating videos during the first quarter, with a proactive removal rate of 99.6%, meaning that users reported the content before it was reported. 94.3% of violating content was removed within 24 hours, reflecting the rapid response and effectiveness of its moderation tools.

Regarding live streaming, 347,935 hosts were banned, and 587,246 live streams were suspended during the same period.

Morocco: Over 1 Million Videos Removed

Morocco recorded the removal of 1,040,981 violating videos, with a proactive removal rate of 98.9%. 92.1% of these clips were removed within 24 hours. The platform also banned 44,121 hosts and suspended 77,396 live streams during the same period.

Iraq: 10 Million Videos Removed

Iraq saw the removal of over 10 million violating videos, with a proactive removal rate of 99.5%, while 95.5% of the content was removed within 24 hours. Regarding live streaming, TikTok banned 346,335 hosts and suspended 649,551 live streams.

Lebanon

In Lebanon, TikTok removed 1,349,478 violating videos, with a proactive removal rate of 99.5%. 96.9% of these clips were removed within 24 hours, reflecting a high level of preparedness to monitor violations. The platform also banned 24,795 hosts and suspended 45,536 live broadcasts.

Appeals and Content Retrieval

The report demonstrated TikTok's commitment to fairness by accepting user appeals in cases of incorrect content removal. Iraq recorded the highest number of videos retrieved, with 209,291, followed by Egypt with 144,605, Morocco with 53,525, and Lebanon with 31,880.

TikTok relies on a combination of automated systems and human review to ensure efficient and fair implementation of policies. Users are always notified when content is removed, with the possibility of appeal, enhancing transparency and accountability.

TikTok continues its awareness-raising efforts through media and community partnerships and digital education initiatives, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region, to ensure informed and safe use of the platform.