TikTok users in the US have said comments containing the phrase “Free Palestine” are being flagged as hate speech. The controversy comes days after the platform was temporarily banned and then reinstated by an executive order from President Donald Trump.
Before the brief ban took effect on Sunday, TikTok was considered one of the few significant platforms that allowed pro-Palestinian content without bias. Screenshots and videos shared on X show comments being removed for allegedly breaching TikTok's hate speech rules.
One viral video, viewed more than eight million times, captures a notification from TikTok stating that the phrase “Free Palestine” was flagged for “hate speech and hateful behaviours”.
The backlash has been swift, with users on X accusing the platform of silencing Palestinian advocacy. This frustration has sparked broader questions about whether TikTok's moderation policies are being influenced by political pressures tied to its recent legal and political battles.
A representative for TikTok denied any bias against pro-Palestinian content in its content moderation. “Our community guidelines apply equally to all content on TikTok," the representative told The National. "TikTok does not moderate or remove content based on political sensitivities. We remove content if it violates community guidelines, but not on the basis of it being pro-Palestinian.”
A ban with political and security implications
TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, was initially given until January 19 to sell the platform to an American buyer or face a complete ban in the US. The legislation passed Congress with bipartisan support and was signed by Joe Biden, president at the time, because of national security concerns.
Politicians argued that TikTok could share user data with the Chinese government, posing a risk to US privacy and security. On Sunday, TikTok went offline for US users.
Within hours, Mr Trump announced plans to issue an executive order delaying the ban's enforcement to allow time for negotiations, effectively bringing TikTok back online. Mr Trump framed his intervention as a victory for free speech and the millions of Americans who use the platform.
“Americans deserve to see our exciting inauguration on Monday, as well as other events and conversations,” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social platform. He also hinted at a potential solution involving a joint venture between ByteDance and an American owner to address national security concerns.
Despite Mr Trump's efforts, the long-term future of TikTok in the US remains uncertain. Critics within Mr Trump's Republican party, including senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts, oppose any delay in the ban's enforcement, arguing that TikTok poses an immediate threat.
“Now that the law has taken effect, there is no legal basis for any kind of 'extension' of its effective date,” they said in a joint statement. "For TikTok to come back online in the future, ByteDance must agree to a sale that satisfies the law's qualified-divestiture requirements by severing all ties between TikTok and Communist China."
Tying ban to content moderation
Since Hamas's October 7 attacks on Israel, US politicians have increasingly connected the potential TikTok ban to the platform's pro-Palestinian content. Last May, Mitt Romney, a US senator at the time, explicitly linked support for the ban to TikTok's content during a conversation with then secretary of state Antony Blinken at a McCain Institute forum in Sedona, Arizona.
“You have a social media ecosystem environment in which context, history, facts get lost and the emotion – the impact of images – dominates,” Mr Blinken said, responding to Mr Romney's query about the US and Israel's struggles to communicate justifications for the Gaza war.
Mr Romney suggested that TikTok's content might have influenced congressional support for the ban. “If you look at the postings on TikTok and the number of mentions of Palestinians, relative to other social media sites – it's overwhelmingly so among TikTok broadcasts," he added.
While the ban has been framed as a national security measure, Mr Romney's comments have also sparked a backlash from free-speech advocates, who argue that censoring content based on political viewpoints sets a dangerous precedent.
Censorship claims erode trust
The recent allegations of censorship have further fuelled distrust of TikTok among some users. Many have accused the platform of abandoning its role as a space for free expression, particularly for pro-Palestinian content.
As a result, users are increasingly migrating to alternative platforms including RedNote, a Shanghai-based social media app that has experienced a surge in American users. “We told you THIS is why they banned it,” one user wrote on X.
As debates about content moderation and political influence continue, creators and users wonder what is next for one of the world's most popular social media platforms.
Blonde
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SHAITTAN
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Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Company%20Profile
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Mobile phone packages comparison
Episode list:
Ep1: A recovery like no other- the unevenness of the economic recovery
Ep2: PCR and jobs - the future of work - new trends and challenges
Ep3: The recovery and global trade disruptions - globalisation post-pandemic
Ep4: Inflation- services and goods - debt risks
Ep5: Travel and tourism
Company%C2%A0profile
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place playoff
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
RESULTS
Argentina 4 Haiti 0
Peru 2 Scotland 0
Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
RESULTS
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Hugo Lebouc (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Karaginsky, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Sadeedd, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
3pm Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Blue Sovereign, Clement Lecoeuvre, Erwan Charpy.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Bladesmith, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
