A new report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) highlights progress in tackling unjustified geo-blocking in the EU but calls for stronger enforcement and expanded regulations. Geo-blocking, which restricts online access to goods and services based on nationality or location, was targeted by a 2018 regulation aimed at ensuring fairer treatment in the EU Single Market. However, the ECA found that inconsistent enforcement has left many consumers unprotected.
The report reveals significant disparities in penalties for non-compliance, ranging from minor fines of €26 in some countries to €5 million or even criminal liability in others. These gaps, combined with limited awareness among consumers and traders about available support, have undermined the regulation’s effectiveness. Key exemptions for sectors like audiovisual services—such as streaming platforms and TV distribution—are also causing frustration, with calls to broaden the regulation’s scope during its 2025 review.
Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz, the ECA member responsible for the audit, warned that geo-blocking continues to restrict consumer choices and fuel dissatisfaction. In response, the European Commission has welcomed the findings, signalling potential reforms, including stricter enforcement mechanisms and exploring ways to address challenges tied to copyright practices. The Commission has committed to factoring the report into its upcoming evaluation of the regulation.
A decision to allocate satellite spectrum administratively rather than through an auction aims to increase competition in India’s vast telecom market. Telecoms Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasised the government’s commitment to providing consumers with greater choice, despite concerns from Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio over losing ground to Elon Musk’s Starlink. Reliance had pushed for auctions, arguing they ensure a level playing field after the company invested $19 billion in airwave rights.
Analysts suggest administrative allocation aligns with global norms and reduces investment barriers for foreign companies. Scindia noted that current satellite technology is limited to outdoor use, which distinguishes it from indoor services offered by terrestrial networks. Applications from Starlink and Amazon Kuiper to enter India’s satellite broadband market, projected to reach $1.9 billion by 2030, are under review.
India’s competitive telecom sector, with 942 million users and low data costs, is attracting significant global interest. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a state-run operator with 99 million users, is expanding its 4G offerings to regain market share. Meanwhile, the government remains tight-lipped about plans to assist Vodafone Idea, which faces $24 billion in dues.
Musk’s disruptive approach, evident in markets like Kenya where Starlink’s pricing undercut local rivals, signals potential shifts in India’s broadband landscape. The new satellite policy could bring more innovation, fostering a dynamic environment for global and domestic players.
Bluesky has launched a vertical video feed, positioning itself as a competitor in the short-video space amidst uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the US. This new feature is accessible via the Explore tab and allows users to scroll through trending videos by swiping up. For convenience, users can pin the feed to their home screen or add it to their list of custom feeds.
Acknowledging developers building TikTok alternatives, Bluesky highlighted emerging platforms such as ‘Tik.Blue’ and ‘Skylight.Social,’ which are currently in early development stages. These efforts align with Bluesky’s growth, as the platform has surpassed 28 million users.
Other platforms are also leveraging TikTok’s precarious situation. Elon Musk’s X recently introduced a vertical video feed, while Meta unveiled Edits, a video editing app to rival ByteDance’s CapCut. Bluesky’s latest move highlights a broader shift among social networks seeking to capture the short-video audience in the US and globally.
Social platform X has unveiled a vertical video feed for its US audience, aiming to capture users left adrift by the removal of ByteDance’s apps like TikTok and Lemon8 from US app stores. The new feature, accessible through a dedicated video tab, offers a streamlined way for users to view video content.
This update builds on existing functionality, where users could already scroll through videos by tapping them on their timeline. The video tab, however, marks the platform’s first dedicated space for short-form video. X has been increasingly focused on enhancing its video offerings, having launched a standalone TV app last year to feature content from creators and organisations.
As TikTok grapples with regulatory challenges, other platforms are seizing the opportunity. Meta recently introduced Edits, a video editing tool aimed at rivaling ByteDance’s CapCut, while Bluesky has rolled out its own vertical video feed. X’s latest move signals a strategic pivot to bolster its video presence and compete in this evolving digital landscape.
Younger members of Generation Z are turning to ChatGPT for schoolwork, with a new Pew Research Centre survey revealing that 26% of US teens aged 13 to 17 have used the AI-powered chatbot for homework. This figure has doubled since 2023, highlighting the growing reliance on AI tools in education. The survey also showed mixed views among teens about its use, with 54% finding it acceptable for research, while smaller proportions endorsed its use for solving maths problems (29%) or writing essays (18%).
Experts have raised concerns about the limitations of ChatGPT in academic contexts. Studies indicate the chatbot struggles with accuracy in maths and certain subject areas, such as social mobility and African geopolitics. Research also shows varying impacts on learning outcomes, with Turkish students who used ChatGPT performing worse on a maths test than peers who didn’t. German students, while finding research materials more easily, synthesised information less effectively when using the tool.
Educators remain cautious about integrating AI into classrooms. A quarter of public K-12 teachers surveyed by Pew believed AI tools like ChatGPT caused more harm than good in education. Another study by the Rand Corporation found only 18% of K-12 teachers actively use AI in their teaching practices. The disparities in effectiveness and the tool’s limitations underscore the need for careful consideration of its role in learning environments.
Mark Zuckerberg has defended Meta’s use of a dataset containing copyrighted e-books to train its AI models, Llama. The statement emerged from a deposition linked to the ongoing Kadrey v. Meta Platforms lawsuit, which is one of many cases challenging the use of copyrighted content in AI training. Meta reportedly relied on the controversial dataset LibGen, despite internal concerns over potential legal risks.
LibGen, a platform known for providing unauthorised access to copyrighted works, has faced numerous lawsuits and shutdown orders. Newly unsealed court documents suggest that Zuckerberg approved using the dataset to develop Meta’s Llama models. Employees allegedly flagged the dataset as problematic, warning it might undermine the company’s standing with regulators. During questioning, Zuckerberg compared the situation to YouTube’s efforts to remove pirated content, arguing against blanket bans on datasets with copyrighted material.
Meta’s practices are under heightened scrutiny as legal battles pit AI companies against copyright holders. The deposition indicates that Meta considered balancing copyright concerns with practical AI development needs. However, the company faces mounting allegations that it disregarded ethical boundaries, sparking broader debates about fair use and intellectual property in AI training.
Social network X is introducing a dedicated vertical video feed for users, aiming to capitalise on the removal of ByteDance apps like TikTok and Lemon8 from US app stores. The new video tab, added to the app’s bottom bar, provides users quick access to immersive video content.
X users could scroll through short videos by tapping them in their timeline, but the new tab creates a dedicated space for videos. This marks the platform’s latest effort to enhance video experiences, following the launch of a standalone TV app last year to showcase content from creators and organisations.
As TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain, other social networks are seizing the opportunity. Meta recently announced a video editing app, Edits, to rival ByteDance’s CapCut, while Bluesky introduced a custom feed for vertical videos, further intensifying competition in the short video market.
As a potential US ban on TikTok looms, advertisers dependent on the platform are scrambling to prepare contingency plans. With a January 19 deadline for ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to sell its US assets or face a ban, many marketers are facing the reality that the app may soon be inaccessible. This has led to a sense of urgency, with some industry professionals describing the situation as a “hair on fire” moment.
TikTok, which has become a key player in US digital advertising, particularly among younger audiences, may lose over $11 billion in annual ad revenue if the ban goes through. Most of this ad spend would likely shift to platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Alphabet’s YouTube Shorts, where many advertisers are already established. Despite the uncertainty, TikTok continued to pitch new advertising features and planned its presence at major global events like the World Economic Forum in Davos.
In the face of potential shutdown, many influencers and brands are downloading their data in a last-ditch effort to preserve content and advertising materials. TikTok has offered favourable refund terms to advertisers, though some still question the platform’s future in the US. This heightened uncertainty marks a stark contrast to the optimism advertisers held just weeks ago, when many expected a resolution before the ban could take effect.
TikTok’s growing influence in US advertising, particularly in e-commerce, has been notable, with ad spending on the platform increasing rapidly. Despite challenges, the app’s powerful ability to drive sales through influencers and short-form video content has made it a favourite among advertisers looking to tap into the youth market. As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on whether the incoming administration will intervene to prevent TikTok’s shutdown.
TikTok’s future in the US grew more uncertain this week as officials suggested its Chinese owner, ByteDance, should have more time to sell the app and prevent a ban. With the clock ticking toward Sunday’s deadline, key figures from both political sides urged for a 90-day extension to allow for a divestiture. US Representative Mike Waltz, who was appointed as Trump’s national security adviser, indicated that the new administration would take steps to keep TikTok operational if substantial progress is made in securing a deal.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, traditionally a supporter of the law forcing TikTok to sell its US assets, also called for an extension, citing concerns over the app’s potential shutdown disrupting the lives of millions of users. The law, passed in April, mandates ByteDance either sell TikTok’s US assets by Sunday or face a ban on national security grounds. However, it’s now unclear whether the app will be allowed to stay active in the US without an official extension.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is reportedly set to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, further hinting at a shift in relations between the app and the Trump administration. While concerns about Chinese ownership and its potential for data collection remain, Schumer and other lawmakers are signalling a growing bipartisan desire to avoid the political and economic fallout of a TikTok ban. The situation remains fluid, with decisions expected to unfold in the coming days.
As the deadline approaches, TikTok’s potential shutdown has already caused some users to explore alternatives, with RedNote, another Chinese social media platform, seeing a surge in US users. Meanwhile, with more than 170 million American users and substantial ad revenue at stake, the clock is ticking for a resolution before the app faces a permanent ban.
Microsoft has introduced a new chat service, Copilot Chat, allowing businesses to deploy AI agents for routine tasks. The service, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, enables users to create AI-driven assistants using natural language commands in English, Mandarin, and other languages. Tasks such as market research, drafting strategy documents, and meeting preparation can be handled for free, though advanced features like Teams call transcription and PowerPoint slide creation require a $30 monthly Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription.
With increasing pressure to generate returns on its substantial AI investments, Microsoft is betting on a pay-as-you-go model to drive adoption. The company is expected to spend around $80 billion on AI infrastructure and data centres this fiscal year. Following concerns about Copilot’s adoption, Microsoft has been pushing its AI tools more aggressively, offering businesses greater flexibility in using AI for automation.
In a move towards greater AI autonomy, Microsoft previously introduced tools allowing customers to create self-sufficient AI agents with minimal human input. Analysts suggest that such innovations could offer a simpler path to monetisation for tech companies, making AI-driven automation more accessible and scalable.
