TikTok is different in China, but the rest of the world isn’t getting a completely free TikTok.

TikTok is known for tipping the scales on political keywords everywhere. In the past they haven’t outright censored because that’s too obvious, but uploading videos on the wrong side (according to TikTok, of course) of a political topic will result in very few views.

I wouldn’t be surprised if as part of the transition they’re struggling with the previous methods of simply burying topics, so the obvious ban was their intermediate step.

The comments claiming this is specific to the US are simply wrong. TikTok has always done this everywhere.