TikTok hires former Israeli soldier to lead hate speech policy

TikTok has appointed Erica Mindel, a self-described "proud" American Jew and former Israeli soldier, as its new Public Policy Manager overseeing hate speech.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Mindel started the role in July 2025. Her responsibilities include shaping TikTok's policies on hate speech, monitoring content, managing long-term strategy, and acting as the platform's subject matter expert on antisemitism.

The job description notes that Mindel will "analyse hate speech trends, focusing on antisemitic content", and represent TikTok's policy positions in internal and external forums.

Before joining TikTok, Mindel worked from 2022 to 2025 as a contractor for the US State Department during the Biden administration, supporting Deborah Lipstadt, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.

She previously spent two years as Assistant Director of Program Development at the American Jewish Committee (AJC), where she helped lead policy delegations to Israel for political, media, religious, civic, and academic figures.

In a 2023 AJC video, Mindel said she was raised in a traditional, conservative Jewish household and took a ten-month gap year in Israel after high school.

"During my first month at university, a BDS motion was brought and I dedicated myself 'wholeheartedly' to combating it," she said.

Recalling the 2014 Israeli assault on Gaza, known as Operation Protective Edge, Mindel said: "I knew the well-being of Jews worldwide and the security of Israel would be issues of lifelong importance to me."

After university, she moved to Israel and served two and a half years in the Israeli military as an instructor in the Armoured Corps.

"For many, this may seem like a contradiction. It could seem strange that a woman who identifies as 'liberal and progressive' is also a Zionist, 'so committed as to join the IDF.’ But for me, these two identities go hand in hand. I am a proud American Jew," she said.

TikTok has come under fire in recent years for its handling of antisemitic content.

In March 2024, Eric Fingerhut, head of the Jewish Federations of North America, said the platform had "helped fuel a horrific spike in antisemitism that our communities are feeling every day, and it's time to take action".

The New Arab has contacted TikTok for comment on the appointment.