TikTok has released its first-ever TikTok Shop Safety Report, detailing its company’s efforts to maintain a trustworthy online environment in 2023. The report provides insights into TikTok Shop’s policies and enforcement measures to protect brands and ensure customers can shop confidently.

According to the data, TikTok Shop has onboarded more than 6 million sellers and assessed their products before allowing them to be listed on the platform. The tech company states that it requires all sellers to provide documentation verifying their identity, business type, and eligibility to operate, scrutinizing these applications closely to comply with applicable regulations.

Once approved, sellers are placed on probation for a period, allowing them to learn the platform’s rules before fully engaging with the shopping experience. During this time, TikTok Shop enforces a range of policies covering issues such as counterfeits, illegal activity, prohibited and restricted products, customer service, and order fulfillment requirements.

The report also reveals that TikTok Shop prevented 37 million products from being listed due to policy breaches and removed an additional 133,000 individual products after listing. Furthermore, the company deactivated the accounts of more than 1 million sellers and removed e-commerce features from over 500,000 creators due to policy violations.

TikTok Shop states that it employs a combination of tools and technologies, including machine learning models and algorithms, to detect potential instances of fraud, infringement, unsafe content, or violative product listings. 

In addition to proactive strategies, TikTok Shop says it also takes action when made aware of possible breaches of its policies. The company has established a dedicated Intellectual Property Protection Center (IPPC) to provide a streamlined mechanism for reporting potential IP infringements.

The company has strengthened partnerships with key intellectual property offices in Southeast Asia and actively participates in global conferences and meetings with intellectual property organizations.