TikTok appoints former 'Israeli' army instructor as "hate speech" manager
TikTok is facing backlash over the recent appointment of Erica Mindel, a former instructor in the 'Israeli' army’s Spokesperson’s Unit, as the platform’s new Public Policy Manager for Hate Speech.
Critics have raised serious concerns about the potential implications for Palestinian digital freedoms.
According to Sada Social, a digital rights organization that monitors violations against Palestinian content, Mindel will be responsible for shaping TikTok’s hate speech policies, drafting relevant legislation, and monitoring online trends, particularly antisemitic content.
Mindel, who began her role in July 2025, previously served as a contractor for the US Department of State under Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the Biden administration’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. She also held a senior position at the American Jewish Committee (AJC), where she managed high-level advocacy delegations to 'Israel'.
In a 2023 AJC video, Mindel described herself as a “proud” Zionist and recounted her decision to make aliyah and enlist in the 'Israeli' military after graduating from the University of Michigan. She noted that her commitment to Zionism deepened during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, which left more than 2,000 Palestinians dead, including over 500 children, according to Amnesty International.
Meet TikTok’s New Zionist Censorship Tsar, Erica Mindel
— MintPress News (@MintPressNews) July 29, 2025
Mindel is a former IDF instructor & is now employed to run TikTok’s “hate speech” enforcement.
The head of the ADL previously said Israel has a “TikTok problem”. Now a devout Zionist can censor the platform. pic.twitter.com/DgMBz6Aejv
Sada Social has expressed grave concern about Mindel’s appointment, stating: “Assigning someone affiliated with an army currently under international investigation for genocide in Gaza to lead hate speech policy only entrenches existing biases and undermines the principles of fairness and digital justice.”
The organization warned that her military background could further compromise TikTok’s handling of Palestinian content, citing its 2024 Digital Index, which revealed that 27% of all digital violations targeting Palestinian voices occurred on TikTok.
Sada Social also highlighted TikTok’s compliance with 94% of the 'Israeli' government's content removal requests in the second half of 2024, which included the deletion of videos with journalistic value and the removal of accounts belonging to activists and media professionals.
Despite global concern, TikTok has reportedly failed to conduct an internal review of its policies, even after evidence submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by South Africa included footage from the platform showing 'Israeli' soldiers mocking victims and celebrating destruction in Gaza.
In light of these developments, digital rights advocates fear that Mindel’s appointment signals a narrowing space for Palestinian expression online and a further entrenchment of biased content moderation practices on one of the world’s most influential social media platforms.
