Misguided TikTokers have been using AI to translate Adolf Hitler’s speeches into English, resulting in videos that go against TikTok’s guidelines banning the promotion of individuals who have caused violence or promote hateful ideologies. Despite these guidelines, some videos have garnered millions of views. One video in particular featured Hitler giving a speech with a slow instrumental beat suggesting he tried to save lives during World War II. Other Nazi-themed videos have also proliferated on the platform, with one video accumulating over 270,000 views before being removed.
While some users have condemned the Hitler-themed videos, many have remained up on the platform following a report from Media Matters. Between September 2 and 3, Sky News found over 50,000 TikTok posts featuring speeches from Hitler and Joseph Goebbels. Many of these posts used Drift Phonk music without permission, attracting thousands of likes and positive comments. Some users went as far as stating that modern society needs someone like Hitler. The platform’s sound feature has made it difficult for the company to identify inappropriate content when it is mixed with popular music.
One artist, Pastel Ghost, expressed shock and disappointment to find her music being used in videos featuring Hitler’s speeches on TikTok. The platform’s spokesperson stated that they are regularly training their safety professionals and updating their safeguards to detect hateful behavior on an ongoing basis. They claim to remove 91% of this type of content before it is even reported to them. However, the sheer volume of hateful content on the platform makes it challenging to monitor and remove all inappropriate videos.
TikTok has faced criticism in the past for its lack of control over inappropriate content and hateful ideologies being shared on its platform. The platform has rules in place that prohibit the promotion of violence and hate speech, but these rules are not always effectively enforced. The use of AI to translate Hitler’s speeches into English and the proliferation of Nazi-themed content on TikTok highlights how easily harmful ideologies can spread on social media.
In response to the report from Media Matters and Sky News, TikTok removed some of the videos featuring Hitler’s speeches and took action to prevent further spread of hateful content. However, the platform still faces challenges in identifying and removing all inappropriate content. Users must remain vigilant and report any content that violates TikTok’s guidelines to ensure a safe and inclusive platform for all users. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of allowing hateful ideologies to spread unchecked on social media platforms and the importance of enforcing strict rules to prevent the promotion of violence and hate speech.
