Analysts of the NASK Disinformation Analysis Centre published a report that shows that the TikTok platform algorithm can be used for propaganda purposes. The study included content visible to Polish users in the context of six sensitive topics related to China: Sinciangu, Tibet, Tiananmen Square massacres, Taiwan, human rights in China and reeducation camps.
As stated in the conclusions of the report: "there are reasonable grounds to believe that the algorithm responsible for positioning content on TikToku may be manipulated and used for propaganda purposes. This includes, among other things, actions to shape the image of a country, in this case a positive image of China. The results show that the average Polish user of the platform, searching for information on topics related to China – especially in sensitive issues such as Sinciang, Tibet, human rights and reeducation camps – would receive content of a definitely prognostic character. In the case of TikTok, there is no direct censorship mechanism (as in the Chinese-language version of the Douyin application), and some topics were treated as a "safety valve" which ByteDance uses to repel accusations of bias and cooperation with the Chinese government".
The survey was conducted for three months (July 16 to October 16, 2025) on six newly created accounts registered in Poland. The first twenty search results for each password were analysed and nearly 10,000 materials were collected. The contents were classified as proquin, neutral, critical, anti-Chinese or unrelated.
In the case of Sinciang, as many as 59 percent of the materials were of a prognostic character – tourist advertising and influencer films were dominant, highlighting the development of the region and good conditions of life of the Uighurs. A similar pattern was observed at the slogan "Tibet" (45 percent of the proquin content). narrations in line with the official line of Beijing also prevailed with slogans on human rights and reeducation camps. An exception was the massacre in Tiananmen Square – 77% of the content was critical of Chinese authorities. In Taiwan, the vast majority were neutral travel materials.
The authors of the report point out that on the platform there are accounts distributing professionally prepared propaganda, often posing as amateur content. They are not designated as state media. The scale of actions in the Polish language is limited for now, but may grow. The report emphasises that this situation is contrary to EU and Polish principles of transparency and free access to information.
NASK recommends critical approach to content appearing on TikToku and special care when publishing materials and data on the platform – in particular by government entities and persons associated with the state apparatus. The platform, subordinated to the Chinese ByteDance entity operating within the Chinese legal system, has the potential to become an instrument of influence operation.
Source: report NASK Disinformation Analysis Centre "Algorithm management: China in the eyes of Polish TikTok users" (2026). ISBN: 978-83-68356-64-9
