ISLAMABAD: Video-sharing platform TikTok announced measures to combat misinformation, violence and hate speech to uphold “election integrity” in Pakistan on Tuesday, with the threat of fake news and AI-powered disinformation looming large as the South Asian country heads to the polls on Feb. 8.

Pakistan faces overlapping political, economic and security challenges with polls less than three weeks away. Digital rights activists and groups have warned of the dangers of misinformation, fake news and hate speech marring polls in a country that has a burgeoning young population, and where millions use Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms. 

TikTok, popular with millions of Pakistanis, has come under significant criticism in the South Asian nation’s conservative society. Pakistani courts in recent years have banned the short-video platform, saying it has a “bad, negative and dangerous” impact on the youth.

“TikTok has robust measures in place to combat misinformation, violence, and hate speech in line with its Community Guidelines, available both in English and Urdu,” it said in a press statement. 

“The platform is dedicated to removing misleading information about civic processes, including voter registration, candidate eligibility, ballot counting, and election results.”

TikTok said its policies prohibit content that intimidates voters, suppresses voting, or incites violence, adding that it has deployed over 40,000 personnel globally to ensure user safety on the platform.

The platform said it works with local and regional fact-checkers that help it accurately remove election misinformation. 

“Content under review or identified as unsubstantiated is restricted from the For You Feed recommendation, and both viewers and creators are alerted about the potential misleading nature of such content,” TikTok said. 

TikTok added its “Pakistan Election Center” hub will direct users to information on the national polls, including voting procedures and locations. 

The platform explained that it has designated policies for accounts that belong to a government, politician, or political party, removing their ability to give or receive money through advertising, fundraising, or TikTok monetization tools.

“Recognizing that global events often influence creative expression, TikTok remains dedicated to supporting its community in Pakistan and worldwide,” it said.