TikTok has also introduced its Asia Pacific Safety Advisory Council (APAC). This council is made up of legal experts, representatives of various regulatory bodies and academia from all across the region. The aim of this external council is to advice on content moderation policies and trust and safety issues specific to the region.

The council brings together thought leaders who can help to develop forward looking policies that not only address the challenges of today, but also plan ahead for the next set of issues that the industry will face by identifying them and developing strategies accordingly. They will provide subject matter expertise and advise on TikTok’s content moderation policies and practices to help shape regional and global guidelines.

TikTok is taking a positive step forward in improving its policies and processes with the establishment of the APAC Safety Advisory Council. I’m pleased to welcome the founding members to the council and firmly believe this council will provide constructive, sound and honest advice as TikTok continues to strengthen its content policies in Asia Pacific. We look forward to expanding our council in the future, with representatives from other markets in the region.

Arjun Narayan – TikTok Trust and Safety Director.

The founding members of TikTok’s APAC Safety Advisory Council include:

• Jehan Ara, President, Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES and Founder, The Nest i/o, from Pakistan is a highly regarded expert in the IT industry and will lend her expertise on general content related issues.
• Amitabh Kumar, Founder, Social Media Matters, from India is known for his initiatives on social digital campaigns and is highly regarded for his digital safety programmes focused on gender sensitisation, digital rights and online safety.
• Nguyen Phuong Linh, Executive Director, Management and Sustainable Development Institute, from Vietnam advocates for the rights of marginalised groups, especially children, youth, women and people with disabilities.
• Dr. Yuhyun Park, Founder, DQ Institute, from Singapore brings valuable experience and expertise in digital literacy, skills and readiness.
• Prof. Akira Sakamoto, Professor, Department of Psychology, Ochanomizu University, from Japan focuses on the intersection of media and digital literacy.
• Prof. Seungwoo Son, Professor, Industrial Security, Chung-Ang University, from South Korea is a renowned expert on intellectual property and Internet law, which includes defamation, pornography and misinformation.
• Anita Wahid, Activist, Gusdurian Network Indonesia and President, MAFINDO (Indonesia Anti-Hoax Society), from Indonesia is an activist at the intersection of human rights and anti-hoax who understands child safety issues and religious content needs.

This council will convene quarterly for discussions on key issues, including online safety, child safety, digital literacy, mental health and human rights, report on observations and submit formal recommendations related to the issues discussed. More details about the council and its updates can be found on TikTok’s official website.