Australia's election watchdog says it had to ask TikTok to remove footage of staff inside counting centres and polling places during the recent federal election.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) reportedly contacted TikTok to ask for the removal of multiple versions of a video that allegedly captured AEC employees without their knowledge, and accused the AEC of “rigging the election”.

“Content that impinges on the safety and/or privacy of our permanent or temporary staff is of course of significant concern,” AEC spokesperson Evan Ekin-Smyth said.

“We take these matters very seriously.”

The videos were allegedly linked to “freedom parties” and parts of Australia's anti-lockdown movement, which were encouraging supporters to sign up as scrutineers to challenge vote counting.

The misguided campaign appears to have borrowed from unproven allegations in the United States that the 2020 presidential election was compromised by voter fraud.

More details are available here.