ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, has allocated over 150 billion yuan ($20.64 billion) for capital expenditure this year, with a significant focus on AI, according to sources familiar with the matter. About half of the investment will support overseas AI infrastructure, including data centres and networking equipment. Beneficiaries of this spending are expected to include chipmakers Huawei, Cambricon, and US supplier Nvidia, although ByteDance has denied the accuracy of the claims.
The investment aims to solidify ByteDance’s AI leadership in China, where it has launched over 15 standalone AI applications, such as the popular chatbot Doubao, which boasts 75 million monthly active users. Its international counterparts include apps like Cici and Dreamina, reflecting ByteDance’s strategy to adapt its AI offerings globally. The company also recently updated its flagship AI model, Doubao, to rival reasoning models like those developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
ByteDance’s international spending aligns with its efforts to expand AI capabilities abroad amid challenges like the uncertain future of TikTok in the United States. While ByteDance’s $20 billion plan is substantial, it remains modest compared to the AI investments of US tech giants like Google and Microsoft, which spent $50 billion and $55.7 billion respectively on AI infrastructure in the past year. The spending will also bolster ByteDance’s partnerships with suppliers such as Nvidia, from which it has procured custom AI chips tailored to China despite US export restrictions.
CTM360, a Bahrain-based cybersecurity platform, has partnered with the ISACA Singapore Chapter to enhance Singapore’s cybersecurity landscape. By signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the first members’ event of 2025, this collaboration aims to elevate cybersecurity through capacity development, professional development, and fostering a culture of knowledge exchange.
The partnership focuses on hosting joint events, training programs, and workshops designed to advance cybersecurity expertise, support certification advancements, and develop innovative strategies to address evolving cyber threats. By combining their expertise, both organisations are working to enhance cybersecurity ecosystem in Singapore and equip professionals with the tools required to tackle modern challenges, ensuring cybersecurity remains a priority across industries.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for professional growth and strengthening the cybersecurity community. It underscores the importance of equipping professionals with the necessary knowledge and tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The partnership also aims to drive impactful initiatives, promoting a safer and more resilient digital environment through collective responsibility and a focus on addressing current and future cyber threats.
A new poll by the Allensbach Institute reveals that Germans who rely on TikTok for news are less likely to view China as a dictatorship, criticise Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, or trust vaccines compared to consumers of traditional media. The findings suggest that the platform’s information ecosystem could contribute to scepticism about widely accepted narratives and amplify conspiracy theories. Among surveyed groups, TikTok users exhibited levels of distrust in line with users of X, formerly Twitter.
The study, commissioned by a foundation affiliated with Germany’s Free Democrats, comes amid ongoing US debates over the potential national security risks posed by the Chinese-owned app. The research highlights how young Germans, who make up TikTok’s largest user base, are more inclined to support the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has surged in popularity ahead of Germany’s upcoming election. By contrast, consumers of traditional media were significantly more supportive of Ukraine and critical of Russian aggression.
Concerns about misinformation on platforms like TikTok are echoed by researchers, who warn that foreign powers, particularly Russia, exploit social media to influence public opinion. The poll found that while 57% of newspaper readers believed China to be a dictatorship, only 28.1% of TikTok users shared the same view. Additionally, TikTok users were less likely to believe that China and Russia disseminate false information, while being more suspicious of their own government. Calls for action to address misinformation underscore the platform’s potential impact on younger, more impressionable audiences.
Former Meta Platforms COO Sheryl Sandberg has been sanctioned by a Delaware Chancery Court judge for deleting emails linked to the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal, despite orders to preserve them. Judge Travis Laster determined that Sandberg used a personal email account under a pseudonym to erase messages potentially relevant to a shareholder lawsuit. The sanctions are likely to complicate her defence in the trial set for April, and she has been ordered to cover shareholders’ expenses related to the motion.
The lawsuit, filed in 2018, accuses Facebook’s leadership of harming investors by violating a 2012 Federal Trade Commission consent order to protect user data. Shareholders also allege the company paid a $5 billion fine in 2019 to shield founder Mark Zuckerberg from personal liability. Zuckerberg is expected to face a second deposition before the non-jury trial begins. Sandberg has argued that her email deletions did not affect critical evidence, claiming that relevant messages were often copied to others.
Judge Laster criticised the deletions, stating they likely erased the most sensitive communications. The court also considered similar allegations against Jeffrey Zients, a former Meta board member, but deemed his deleted emails less significant as he joined after the Cambridge Analytica scandal emerged. The case has been described by Laster as involving “wrongdoing on a truly colossal scale,” with significant implications for accountability in corporate governance.
President Donald Trump unveiled a $500 billion private-sector initiative on Tuesday aimed at transforming AI infrastructure in the US. The joint venture, called Stargate, brings together OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to build 20 massive data centres and create over 100,000 jobs. Backers have committed $100 billion for immediate deployment, with the remainder spread over the next four years.
The announcement, made at the White House with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison in attendance, underscores America’s push to lead in AI development. Ellison revealed that the first data centres, each half a million square feet, are already under construction in Texas. These facilities aim to power advanced AI applications, including analysing electronic health records to assist doctors.
Trump attributed the project’s launch to his leadership, with executives expressing their support. “We wouldn’t have decided to do this unless you won,” Son said. However, the ambitious project arrives amid concerns over the rising energy demands of AI data centres. Trump promised to simplify energy production for these facilities, even as experts warn of potential power shortfalls across the country in the coming decade.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of surging AI investments since OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in 2022, which sparked widespread adoption of AI across industries. Oracle and other tech stocks, including Nvidia and Dell, climbed on the news, reflecting market enthusiasm for the Stargate project.
ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, is reportedly planning a substantial $12 billion investment in AI infrastructure by 2025. According to the Financial Times, the funds will go towards acquiring advanced AI chips and enhancing model training capabilities, both domestically and abroad. A spokesperson for ByteDance refuted the accuracy of the report, calling the claims incorrect.
The company intends to allocate 40 billion yuan ($5.5 billion) towards purchasing AI chips in China, while an additional $6.8 billion will be spent overseas. Domestic semiconductor orders would largely go to Chinese suppliers, including Huawei and Cambricon, with the remainder focused on Nvidia chips modified to comply with US export restrictions.
China’s government has encouraged tech firms to source a significant percentage of their chips from local manufacturers. Meanwhile, ByteDance continues to navigate US scrutiny, with its popular app TikTok facing political pressure to be sold.
The news comes amid a broader global race for AI dominance, where investment in cutting-edge technology remains pivotal for competitive advantage.
President Donald Trump’s executive order delaying the enforcement of a US TikTok ban has created new legal uncertainties for the platform and its service providers, including Google and Apple. Signed on Monday, the order pauses for 75 days a law requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app over national security concerns.
While the order directs the Justice Department to halt enforcement and assures app distributors of no liability during the review period, legal experts warn that the promise offers little protection. Courts do not consider executive orders binding, and Trump could alter or selectively enforce the policy at any time, potentially exposing companies to massive penalties.
The ban, passed by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court days before Trump’s order, imposes steep fines of $5,000 per user for violations, making compliance a high-stakes gamble for service providers. Critics argue that the legal ambiguity could also open companies to shareholder lawsuits if they ignore the ban based solely on Trump’s directive.
Trump’s move has reignited tensions between the White House and lawmakers, who overwhelmingly supported the ban over fears of Chinese influence. The coming weeks may bring further legal battles and political manoeuvring as the future of TikTok in the US hangs in the balance.
Thailand is strengthening its digital partnerships with Japan and Vietnam to drive innovation, enhance connectivity, and position itself as a Southeast Asia digital economy leader. These collaborations focus on emerging technologies such as 5G, AI, 3D printing, and cybersecurity and foster innovation through startup promotion in gaming, entertainment, and other sectors.
Both partnerships prioritise developing digital skills to build a proficient workforce and improve regional connectivity, including submarine cable networks. Thailand has invited Japan to invest in the ‘Thailand Digital Valley’ project, which aims to make Chonburi Province a hub for digital innovation.
Furthermore, Thailand and Vietnam are advancing cooperation through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), while Japan continues its collaboration under the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding (MoC). These agreements provide a structured framework for initiatives in digital transformation, regulatory development, cybersecurity, and regional infrastructure.
Through these efforts, Thailand aims to establish itself as a regional hub for digital technology, promoting sustainable growth and innovation across ASEAN. By leveraging these strategic partnerships, Thailand is building a connected and digitally advanced society, reflecting its commitment to becoming a key player in shaping the region’s digital future.
Several high-profile crypto influencers are facing backlash after amplifying the story of a purported US Treasury XRP wallet, which has now been exposed as a scam. On 22 January, influencers shared the wallet’s details, claiming it was linked to major institutions like JPMorgan and Bank of America. The story gained momentum on social media platforms but was soon debunked through on-chain analysis, which revealed the wallet was based in the Philippines, not the US Treasury.
The fraudulent wallet, identified by the address ‘rfHhX6hA54LBqA3j7r7EnCs6qyaRK2Lyfq’, was even KYC-verified, which added to its legitimacy. Critics within the crypto community have called out influencers for spreading misinformation, citing examples of previous false claims, including one about Ripple being a Central Bank Digital Currency.
This incident highlights the increasing number of crypto-related scams, which have been rising in tandem with the popularity of social media platforms like X. Recent data shows a dramatic spike in impersonation accounts and phishing schemes, with scammers hijacking major company handles and exploiting technical vulnerabilities in blockchain systems.
The rise in crypto scams serves as a stark reminder for users to be cautious and stay vigilant online.
Jobseekers are being targeted by a sophisticated scam that disguises malware as interview invitations. Masquerading as legitimate offers, these fraudulent emails claim to originate from reputable companies like CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm. However, the links they contain redirect victims to malicious websites, leading to the download of cryptomining software.
The malware, once installed, hijacks a computer’s CPU and GPU to mine cryptocurrency. This process severely degrades system performance, causing unresponsiveness, overheating, and increased energy consumption. The software also runs covertly, making it challenging to detect until significant harm is done.
CrowdStrike has acknowledged the scam, urging jobseekers to verify recruitment emails and avoid downloading files from unknown sources. Experts advise using robust antivirus software and remaining vigilant against unsolicited links or downloads during the job application process.
As cybercriminals continually innovate, individuals must exercise caution online. Even scams aimed at exploiting system resources can pave the way for far more invasive attacks, including financial theft and personal data breaches.
