Tik Tok Removes Thousands of Gang-Related Videos and Accounts.

TikTok accounts linked to Mongrel Mob, Black Power, Killer Beez and Commancheros, along with thousands of videos, have been deleted by the social media giant.

The social media giant says it will continue to cover the platform and “proactively” kill and ban users and content linked to criminal gangs and biker gangs in New Zealand.

TikTok told the Herald that in recent weeks – a first in New Zealand and Australia – hundreds of accounts and more than 2,000 gang-related videos had been permanently deleted.

Just over 300 accounts linked to the Mongrel Mob, Black Power, Killer Beez and Commancheros gangs have been removed in recent weeks.

In Australia, more than 40 accounts of groups, including Mongols, Rebels and Commancheros, have been removed.

TikTok has worked closely with police on both sides of the Tasman.

“While this has been done in other markets linked to cartels, the removal and banning of this type of gang content is a first for TikTok globally,” a TikTok spokesperson told the Herald.

“We want our community to feel safe on our platform and share what inspires them, we believe that removing and banning these groups will help further strengthen our community rules and the integrity of our platform.

“We do not allow the presence of violent and hateful organizations or individuals on our platform.

“These include aggressive extremists, violent criminal organizations, violent political organizations, hate organizations and individual perpetrators of mass violence.”

TikTok allows users to send videos between three seconds and 10 minutes long.

Of the approximately one billion users, 1.4 million live in New Zealand.

TikTok still has a fair amount of free content that shows insight into gang life, including a BBQ with the Killer Beez, all with the gang logo tattooed on their left arm with the hashtag #supportyourlocalswarm in the caption.

When the hashtag is clicked, users are taken to a series of other similar videos of hundreds of gang members gathering at various events.

A search for “Mongrel Mob” brings up more videos of patched and tattooed members battling rival gangs and showing off the “lifestyle.”

Black Power videos that are still online show gatherings at gang headquarters and gyms, a member telling the camera that he has 4,000 followers on the platform, and content showing men wearing patches in a row antisocial situations, including fights in public places.

TikTok says there’s no room for it on its platform.

“Safety is our priority,” the spokesman said.

“We remain vigilant in our commitment to counter violent content and hateful organizations on our platform and continue to work with the police.

“We know there is no finish line when it comes to online security, and we will continue to evolve our policies, invest in people and technology, and work with federal and state agencies to support their important work.”

Police Commissioner Andrew Koster told the Herald he praised TikTok for taking a “socially responsible stance against gangs.

“It is well known that social media plays a role in the proliferation of some crimes and gangs often use these platforms to recruit young people,” he said.

“Removing this content will go some way to reducing the overall harm caused by these groups.”

It is common knowledge that police and other agencies use social media content to gather information about gangs, other criminals and anti-social behaviour.

But Koster wasn’t worried about his removal from TikTok.

“Our intelligence is gathered from different sources and it’s just one open source platform,” he said.

“So we’re probably going to see more value in removing that than keeping it for intelligence purposes.”