TikTok appears to be labeling "free Palestine" & “Free Luigi” comments as hate speech

Update 23/01/25 – 12:52 pm (IST): In a statement to 404 Media, a spokesperson for TikTok claimed that the platform is experiencing “temporary instability” which could have led to certain comments being removed. They also told the publication that the platform isn’t against saying “Free Palestine.”

Original article published on January 22, 2025, follows:

TikTok users are noticing something strange. Comments with phrases like “Free Palestine” and “Free Luigi” are getting flagged and removed for violating community guidelines. Some users even say their accounts have been penalized with strikes for posting them. It’s left a lot of people confused and frustrated, especially since these phrases don’t exactly scream hate speech.

One Reddit user shared their experience, saying their “Free Palestine” comment was deleted instantly. GIFs and screenshots floating around social media show similar claims, but not everyone is having the same issue. A user from a country in Africa mentioned they were able to post “Free Palestine” without any problems.

There are even a few clips circulating social media that clearly show the “Free Palestine” comments getting taken down immediately:

It’s possible that TikTok might have adjusted its system to stop taking down “Free Palestine” comments following the initial backlash as we can still see a number of “Free Palestine” comments from a few hours ago on multiple TikTok videos.

That said, The situation gets even weirder with “Free Luigi.” Unlike the politically charged “Free Palestine,” this phrase seems like a harmless joke. But according to some, TikTok is treating it just as harshly.

In fact, I tried testing both phrases on my TikTok account too. While I didn’t have any problem dropping a “Free Palestine” comment on a random video, I later tried commenting “Free Luigi” on a video, only to have it deleted immediately and my account slapped with a strike. Here’s a screenshot of the notice I received on the ‘Activity tab’:

People are scrambling for answers. Some suspect TikTok’s moderation systems are malfunctioning or overly sensitive. Others think there’s a deeper agenda at play. The timing has sparked conspiracy theories, with a few users suggesting this is tied to the recent shift in U.S. politics. 

There’s also talk that this could be connected to TikTok’s ongoing moderation controversies. The platform has been criticized before for inconsistently enforcing its rules. Words or phrases banned in one region are often fine in another.

Theories about why “Free Luigi” specifically is being flagged are all over the place. TikTok simply says it goes against their community guidelines.

Whether it’s a technical glitch or something more intentional, the situation highlights just how messy moderation on massive platforms like TikTok can get. For now, both “Free Palestine” and “Free Luigi” are the latest casualties in what users see as a growing trend of arbitrary censorship.

Feel free to drop a comment below if you noticed any other similar phrases being censored on the platform.