A wave of TikTok account bans targeting Sierra Leonean content creators has sparked outrage and confusion.

On Tuesday, at least five popular accounts, belonging to Michael A. Sesay (@michael.a..sesay), Jdeen (@Jdeen025), Loko Woman (@saliman.213), Eddo Vargas (@eddovargas), Avinash D Comedian (@avinashthecomedian), and Sasqo were reportedly banned.

The sudden bans have left many Sierra Leonean TikTok users wondering about the cause. “This is pathetic,” one user commented. “Our favorite content creators play a significant role in putting smiles on our faces. The biggest question is what led to their ban?”

The timing of these bans coincides with heightened scrutiny of TikTok in the United States, where concerns about data privacy and national security have led to calls for increased regulation and even a potential ban.

Some U.S. states have already implemented bans on government-owned devices. These actions stem from fears that the app’s Chinese ownership could allow access to user data by the Chinese government.

While there’s no direct evidence linking the Sierra Leonean bans to the U.S. situation, the global spotlight on TikTok’s practices raises questions about the platform’s content moderation policies and their potential impact on users worldwide.

The loss of these accounts is a blow to the Sierra Leonean TikTok community, where content creators have built significant followings and play an important role in online entertainment.