A former intelligence operative has raised concerns about potential foreign influence through the TikTok algorithm, highlighting the platform’s growing cultural and political impact, particularly among younger users in the UK. The warnings come amid fears that social media algorithms may be used not only to recommend content based on user preferences but also to subtly manipulate political opinions.

The official, who previously worked with Israeli intelligence, shared findings from an experiment conducted by his former colleagues involving 59 automated accounts—or “bots”—created on TikTok. Over a month beginning in March 2026, these bots did not interact with content through likes or searches but instead scrolled through the videos presented by the platform’s algorithm. The researchers then analyzed approximately 6,500 videos shown to the bots to infer the underlying recommendation mechanisms.

According to the Israeli study, most video recommendations aligned with predicted patterns based on public engagement data such as views, likes, and shares. However, an anomaly emerged involving videos critical of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s military actions against Iran. These videos appeared about 21% more frequently than expected, a discrepancy the researchers suggested was unlikely to be random, with an estimated chance of one in 30 million.

The former intelligence official implied that this overrepresentation could indicate influence by TikTok’s Chinese ownership to shape political sentiment, potentially fostering skepticism towards Trump and supportive views towards Iran and, by extension, China. Given TikTok’s extensive reach—in the UK, roughly half of adults and more than 80% of users under 35 engage with the platform—the implications of such manipulation raise significant questions about the influence on public opinion.

However, experts reviewing the findings advised caution. Critics note that the study may not account for the full complexity of TikTok’s algorithm, which likely incorporates additional user engagement metrics beyond surface-level interactions, such as viewing duration and content exploration behaviors, unavailable to the bots. These factors could explain the discrepancy without the need to infer deliberate manipulation.

Moreover, the geopolitical context complicates interpretations. Public opinion broadly has been critical of U.S. policy on Iran, and this prevailing sentiment might naturally correlate with higher engagement with anti-Trump videos. Israeli intelligence’s concerns about Iran may further color the interpretation of the data.

Regardless of the specific findings, the broader issue highlighted is the opacity and lack of accountability surrounding social media algorithms. Platforms like TikTok, Google, Facebook, and others, predominantly operated by foreign entities outside the UK, wield considerable influence over what content users are exposed to, shaping political discourse without clear oversight or transparency. This presents ongoing challenges as algorithms increasingly reinforce existing biases and amplify societal divisions.

The former intelligence official urged greater public understanding of these algorithms and called for more transparency about how content is selected and recommended. As social media continues to shape political psychology, the extent to which foreign or commercial interests may steer public opinion remains a critical subject for policymakers and the public alike.