UK technology editor Alex Hern joins Anushka Asthana to discuss the Chinese-owned social network that is growing its user base with shareable short videos set to catchy soundtracks. But is it also being used as a tool of Chinese foreign policy? Plus: Marie Le Conte on the role of political gossip

It’s the wildly successful Chinese-owned video-sharing app that is taking on the likes of Snapchat and Instagram. Its users share short videos, 15 to 60 seconds long, usually set to music or film dialogue. But its success comes with worries that it is being used to advance Chinese foreign policy aims and even export censorship.

The Guardian’s Alex Hern tells Anushka Asthana about a series of leaked documents he has seen that showed the company’s moderation policies. They included guidance to censor videos that mention Tiananmen Square, Tibetan independence and the banned religious group Falun Gong.

Also today: what value does political gossip have in Westminster? The author and journalist Marie Le Conte argues that unless you are plugged into the rumour mill, you cannot truly understand what is happening in British politics.

• This podcast was edited on 14 October 2019 to remove erroneous information about TikTok’s age gate and Brexit content policy.

