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2026-08-20 17:06 UTC → 2026-09-05 14:45 UTC ·
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TikTok Senate inquiry over algorithmic safety experiment inquiry
Reports surfaced regarding Following reports of a 2022 TikTok A/B safety experiment in which experiment, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal launched a formal inquiry into the company maintained an older recommendation algorithm for company’s practices. The investigation centers on a control group of approximately 15 million U.S. users who were denied safety features designed to measure the impact of safety-focused feeds on user “stickiness” and engagement. One member of this control group, disrupt harmful content echo chambers. This group included 16-year-old Chase Nasca, who died by suicide in February 2022 after being exposed to content regarding self-harm and depression. In response to these findings, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn self-harm, depression, and Richard Blumenthal launched a formal inquiry. loneliness. The senators, who co-authored co-authors of the Kids Online Safety Act, characterized the decision to withhold safety features from the control group measures as “depraved” and “disgusting.” They alleged “disgusting,” alleging the experiment test sought to determine if safety measures features would negatively affect the company’s impact financial performance. The inquiry has They demanded that TikTok executives provide unredacted internal documents, the names of employees involved, involved employees, and an explanation for the inclusion of minors in the test. Additionally, the senators requested a list history of all previous U.S. algorithmic experiments where safety features were withheld or reduced. TikTok has until On September 1 1, TikTok responded by stating it could not provide the requested documents or specific answers due to respond ongoing litigation. In response, the senators criticized the refusal as “outrageous” and “insulting.” The investigation continues to scrutinize internal documents detailing how the demand. algorithm reportedly continued to serve suicide-related content to Nasca’s account even a year after his death.