Apollo Quiboloy is a controversial religious leader in the Philippines who is the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church and media network SMNI. He has been accused of sex trafficking, child abuse, and other crimes. In 2022, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Quiboloy and his church, accusing them of being involved in a "massive labor trafficking and forced labor scheme."
As a result of these sanctions, TikTok, a popular social media platform, has banned Quiboloy's account. TikTok Philippines confirmed the ban on July 5, 2023, saying that it was done in accordance with the company's community guidelines and "current US sanctions."
The ban on Quiboloy's TikTok account is a significant development, as it shows that the United States government is taking steps to hold him accountable for his alleged crimes. It is also a reminder of the power of social media platforms to regulate content and remove harmful actors from their platforms.
Quiboloy's Alleged Crimes
Quiboloy has been accused of a number of crimes, including sex trafficking, child abuse, and labor trafficking. In 2018, he was arrested in the Philippines on charges of child abuse, but he was released on bail. In 2021, he was indicted by a federal grand jury in the United States on charges of sex trafficking and forced labor.
The charges against Quiboloy allege that he used his position as leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church to traffic young girls for sex and labor. The girls were allegedly forced to work long hours without pay, and they were subjected to physical and emotional abuse.
The United States Sanctions
In 2022, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on Quiboloy and his church. The sanctions prohibit Quiboloy and his associates from doing business with the United States, and they freeze any assets that they may have in the United States.
The sanctions were imposed under the Global Magnitsky Act, which allows the United States to sanction individuals who are accused of human rights abuses or corruption. The sanctions against Quiboloy are the first time that the Global Magnitsky Act has been used against a religious leader.
The TikTok Ban
The ban on Quiboloy's TikTok account is the latest in a series of sanctions imposed on him by the United States government. The ban is significant because it shows that TikTok is taking steps to comply with the United States sanctions against Quiboloy.
TikTok is a popular social media platform that is used by millions of people around the world. The ban on Quiboloy's account is a reminder that social media platforms have a responsibility to regulate content and remove harmful actors from their platforms.
The ban on Apollo Quiboloy's TikTok account is a significant development. It shows that the United States government is taking steps to hold him accountable for his alleged crimes, and it reminds us of the power of social media platforms to regulate content and remove harmful actors from their platforms.
