The transfer of TikTok’s American operations to investors with deep ties to pro-Israel lobbying networks has raised alarm over the platform’s future as a space for dissenting voices. Long considered a digital hub where citizen journalists could bypass traditional media filters, TikTok has played a crucial role over the past two years in exposing the devastating realities of war. That independence now appears increasingly fragile.

The restructuring plan, announced in Washington this week, will see Oracle host TikTok’s US data and oversee its core algorithm. Oracle’s influence is not merely technical. Reports have revealed the company’s internal campaigns encouraging staff to back pro-Israel messaging, while employees who voiced sympathy with Palestinians have faced disciplinary measures or resigned. With such patterns already evident, critics fear the new set-up will accelerate censorship of content highlighting the suffering in Gaza.

These concerns are not unfounded. Content critical of Israel has already been suppressed, with posts about the conflict flagged or removed at unprecedented levels. Activists warn that what is unfolding is not isolated moderation but a coordinated effort to control the narrative, one that reflects the broader consolidation of media and technology power in the hands of those aligned with Israel. For millions who rely on TikTok to witness realities otherwise absent from mainstream outlets, the question now is whether those stories will be silenced altogether.