TikTok has quietly handed the keys to its new American “hate speech” division to an Israeli military operative with deep ties to Israeli intelligence, as Israel continues tightening its grip over social media platforms and policing what Americans are allowed to say online.
Erica Mindel, an instructor in the Armoured Corps in the Israeli army’s spokesperson’s unit, was announced Monday as TikTok’s new Public Policy Manager for Hate Speech in the U.S.
According to TikTok’s own description of her role, Mindel will not only “develop and drive the company’s positions on hate speech” but also “influence legislative and regulatory frameworks” in Washington — effectively placing the Israeli-linked official in a position to shape both TikTok’s internal rules and U.S. laws governing online speech.
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MiddleEast Eye report: Many on social media criticised TikTok’s decision, suggesting that the social media platform aims to silence any speech critical of Israel.
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Meanwhile, it appears the position was created after a “high-level convening” that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) helped coordinate last year, according to Dan Granot, the ADL’s national director of antisemitism policy.
In a statement to Jewish Insider, Granot said the role emerged as “a key recommendation for all social media platforms” during that gathering.
Last year, Wikipedia’s editors voted to declare the ADL “generally unreliable“ on Israel and Palestine as well as the issue of antisemitism, adding the organisation to a list of banned sources, according to a report by the Jewish Telegraph Agency.
The ADL has a long history of attacking Palestinian rights movements with labels of antisemitism, and previously worked with US law enforcement to spy on Arab-American groups. It also facilitated and funded US police training trips to Israel.
The ADL put out a celebratory tweet on X, suggesting that they welcome the decision.
Many on social media have suggested they believe TikTok has “submitted to pressure” from the ADL, hinting at the possibility that TikTok is “complying with these censorship demands to try and stave off a ban” in the US.
