TikTok’s ability to tackle illegal drug sales is facing fresh scrutiny after researchers discovered that 95% of reports flagging suspected drug-selling accounts were dismissed as ‘no violation’. Even more concerning, more than eight in ten flagged accounts remained publicly accessible two weeks later, raising questions about the effectiveness of the platform’s safety measures.

The findings come from a new study led by the University of Bath, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy. Researchers from University College London and the University of Manchester also contributed to what the team believes is the first independent real-time audit of a major social media platform’s response to reports of suspected illegal drug sales.

Between February and July 2026, researchers identified 455 UK-facing TikTok accounts apparently offering drugs, including cocaine, synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as spice, and controlled medicines. Each account displayed drug-related references, targeted UK users and provided an offer or route to supply.

Using TikTok’s standard in-app reporting function, the researchers flagged the accounts and monitored the platform’s responses. They found that 95.2% of reports received a ‘no violation’ decision, while 83.5% of the accounts remained publicly accessible after 14 days.

Professor Chris Pudney, who led the research, said the findings exposed serious weaknesses in TikTok’s reporting system. Although platforms frequently highlight their success in proactively removing harmful content, he questioned whether those systems work effectively when ordinary users directly report suspected criminal activity.

The researchers also uncovered an unusual pattern: every ‘no violation’ decision arrived exactly 30.5 minutes after submission. Although they could not establish whether humans or automated systems made the decisions, the identical response times suggested that automation may play a role.

The findings raise concerns about compliance with the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023, which classifies drug supply offences as priority offences. Since March 2025, regulated platforms have been required to implement proportionate measures to prevent exposure to priority illegal content and minimise how long such material remains available.

TikTok’s own Community Guidelines prohibit promoting or selling illegal drugs. However, researchers found that suspected drug-selling accounts were relatively easy to discover through ordinary searches, while most accounts that survived the first two days after reporting remained accessible throughout the observation period.

The researchers cautioned that their findings do not establish legal non-compliance or suggest that TikTok fails to remove all illegal drug-related content. Instead, the study specifically examined the platform’s response to user reports, rather than its broader proactive moderation efforts.

Calling for independent audits, Professor Pudney urged Ofcom, the UK’s online safety regulator, to investigate whether reporting systems work effectively in practice. The researchers argue that stronger oversight is needed to ensure platforms respond promptly when users flag suspected illegal activity, rather than relying solely on statistics about content removed automatically.

More information: Ashly Fuller et al, A prospective audit of TikTok’s response to UK drug-selling accounts, International Journal of Drug Policy. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2026.105528

Journal information: International Journal of Drug Policy Provided by University of Bath