TikTok has admitted to censoring LGBTQ hashtags in some countries as part of its efforts to “localize” content moderation. Following a report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, which highlighted a list of hashtags “shadow-banned” in Bosnia, Jordan, and Russia, TikTok has insisted it was merely complying with local laws — and not actively targeting the LGBTQ community. The Australian think-tank said restricted terms included: “Gay” in Russian and Arabic “I am lesbian” and “I am gay” in Russian “Transgender” in Arabic While TikTok blames limiting the exposure of LGBTQ content on local laws, it also added that it blocked some…

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