Key Points
- Likee banned 42,751 accounts in Bangladesh between January and May for safety violations
- Platform issues approximately 8.7 million video penalties monthly in Bangladesh
- Company uses AI technology to detect and remove offensive or illegal content
Short video platform Likee has banned 42,751 accounts in Bangladesh for violating safety regulations over a five-month period from January to May, the company announced. The Singapore-headquartered video creation app said it issued approximately 8.7 million video penalties per month during this period as part of its content moderation efforts.
The enforcement action targets content that breaches the platform’s community guidelines, which prohibit offensive, harmful or illegal material. Likee uses artificial intelligence technology, meaning automated systems trained to recognise patterns in content, to identify and remove violating posts before they spread on the platform.
Joy, the platform’s head of operations in Bangladesh, said the company prioritises providing users with a space to showcase their creative talents while maintaining standards of decency. Content that deviates from platform policies is not permitted, he added.
“In case of any violations of the safety protection regulations, Likee always cherishes the mindset to work with relevant law enforcement agencies in whatever way we can,” Joy said.
Likee awareness drive
The company has launched an awareness campaign titled ‘#BhalorJonnoJano’, which translates to ‘#KnowForGood’, to educate users about its community rules and content standards. The campaign features content from several Bangladeshi public figures who have created videos explaining the platform’s posting guidelines.
Ayman Sadiq, founder and chief executive officer of 10 Minute School, an online education platform, participated in the campaign. He emphasised that the impact of social media on society depends on how users choose to engage with it.
“It is imperative that we continue raising awareness and educating people on ways to utilise social media in ways that adds positive value to the society,” Sadiq said.
Mumtaheena Chowdhury Toya, an actress who has been active on Likee, said the campaign aims to encourage responsible use of social media platforms. “We are trying to educate people to use Likee and other social media platforms in ways that are fun yet responsible,” Toya said.
Content moderation
Other participants in the awareness initiative include YouTuber Tawhid Afridi, actress Tanha Tasnia and gender equality consultant Rijve Arefin. Each has created content explaining the necessity of building a safe online community through adherence to platform rules.
Likee operates as a competitor to TikTok in several Asian markets, offering users tools to create and share short-form videos. The platform has faced scrutiny in multiple countries over content moderation practices, with regulators and advocacy groups raising concerns about harmful material reaching young users.
The company said it has invested its revenue into innovation aimed at improving user safety. This includes developing AI-powered moderation systems capable of detecting problematic content at scale, reducing reliance on manual review processes that can be slower to respond to emerging threats.
Content moderation on short video platforms presents particular challenges due to the volume of uploads. Users can publish videos within seconds, making pre-publication review impractical. Platforms typically rely on a combination of automated detection, user reporting and post-publication review to identify violations.
The 42,751 account bans represent permanent removals from the platform. Users who receive video penalties face restrictions on their content visibility or temporary suspensions, depending on the severity of the violation. Repeat offenders face escalating consequences, culminating in permanent bans.
Bangladesh has approximately 66 million internet users, according to government data, with social media platforms forming a significant part of online activity. The country’s telecommunications regulator has previously taken action against platforms for failing to adequately moderate content, including temporary service blocks.
Your Questions, Answered
How many accounts did Likee ban in Bangladesh?
Likee banned 42,751 accounts in Bangladesh between January and May for violating the platform's safety protection regulations.
How many video penalties does Likee issue monthly in Bangladesh?
Likee issues approximately 8.7 million video penalties per month in Bangladesh as part of its content moderation efforts.
What technology does Likee use for content moderation?
Likee uses artificial intelligence technology to automatically detect and remove offensive or illegal content from its platform before it can spread.
What is the BhalorJonnoJano campaign?
BhalorJonnoJano, meaning KnowForGood, is an awareness campaign featuring Bangladeshi celebrities to educate users about Likee's community rules and responsible social media use.
