Big Cheese Studio, a game development studio based in Poland, confirmed it suffered a cyberattack early Friday, according to the Polish Press Agency (PAP). The attack occurred around 4:00 GMT, and the company’s website remained offline several hours later. Management stated that security measures were in place, with an official statement expected later in the day.
Reports indicate hackers accessed the studio’s game code systems and employee personal data. The attackers are allegedly demanding 100,000 zlotys (£19,000) in cryptocurrency to prevent the release of stolen information. Users on social media platform X brought attention to the ransom threat, sparking concerns over data privacy and security.
Big Cheese Studio, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, is working to address the breach. The incident underscores growing risks faced by companies in the gaming industry from cyber threats.
The European Commission has invited major social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and X, to participate in a “stress test” on 31 January to assess their efforts in combating disinformation ahead of Germany‘s election next month. The test is part of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires companies to implement measures mitigating risks on their platforms. Similar tests were successfully conducted for the European Parliament elections last year.
EU spokesperson Thomas Regnier explained that the exercise would involve various scenarios to evaluate how platforms respond to potential challenges under the DSA. Senior compliance officers and specialists from companies such as Microsoft, LinkedIn, Google, Snap, and Meta have been invited to collaborate with German authorities in the closed-door session.
TikTok has confirmed its participation, while other platforms have yet to comment. The initiative underscores the European Union‘s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability from tech giants in safeguarding democratic processes during elections.
Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser, has called on social media companies to take stronger action against disinformation ahead of the federal parliamentary election on 23 February. Faeser urged platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok to label AI-manipulated videos, clearly identify political advertising, and ensure compliance with European laws. She also emphasised the need for platforms to report and remove criminal content swiftly, including death threats.
Faeser met with representatives of major tech firms to underline the importance of transparency in algorithms, warning against the risk of online radicalisation, particularly among young people. Her concerns come amidst growing fears of disinformation campaigns, possibly originating from Russia, that could influence the upcoming election. She reiterated that platforms must ensure they do not fuel societal division through unchecked content.
Calls for greater accountability in the tech industry are gaining momentum. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticised social media owners for enabling algorithms that erode democracy and “poison society.” Faeser’s warnings highlight the growing international demand for stronger regulations on social media to safeguard democratic processes.
Google secured an injunction from London’s High Court on Wednesday, preventing the enforcement of Russian legal judgments against the company. The rulings related to lawsuits filed by Russian entities, including Tsargrad TV and RT, over the closure of Google and YouTube accounts. Judge Andrew Henshaw granted the permanent injunction, citing Google’s terms and conditions, which require disputes to be resolved in English courts.
The Russian judgments included severe ‘astreinte penalties,’ which increased daily and amounted to astronomical sums. Google’s lawyers argued that some fines levied on its Russian subsidiary reached numbers as large as an undecillion roubles—a figure with 36 zeroes. Judge Henshaw highlighted that the fines far exceeded the global GDP, supporting the court’s decision to block their enforcement.
A Google spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the ruling, criticising Russia’s legal actions as efforts to restrict information access and penalise compliance with international sanctions. Since 2022, Google has taken measures such as blocking over 1,000 YouTube channels, including state-sponsored news outlets, and suspending monetisation of content promoting Russia‘s actions in Ukraine.
South Sudan has suspended access to social media platforms for at least 30 days following violent riots triggered by videos allegedly showing the killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan’s El Gezira state. The decision, announced by the National Communications Authority on Wednesday, aims to curb the spread of extreme content and prevent further unrest. Mobile operators MTN South Sudan and Zain confirmed that platforms like Facebook and TikTok would be inaccessible for up to 90 days.
The riots, which erupted in the capital, Juba and other cities, led to the deaths of at least 16 Sudanese nationals. Angry youths looted shops, vandalised property, and burned homes belonging to Sudanese nationals, believing Sudan’s military and its allies were involved in the El Gezira killings. South Sudanese authorities have condemned the violence, urging calm and restraint.
The Sudanese army has also criticised what it described as ‘individual violations’ in El Gezira. The social media ban is part of a broader effort to restore order and prevent further acts of retaliation, as tensions remain high between the neighbouring nations.
Gloucestershire is poised to benefit significantly from the UK government’s push to expand AI development. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s AI Opportunities Action Plan, backed by leading tech firms pledging £14 billion in funding, is expected to create over 13,000 jobs and stimulate economic growth. The county, home to the government intelligence hub GCHQ, is uniquely positioned to leverage this investment, with major developments like Cheltenham’s Golden Valley cyber park and the Minster Exchange project at the forefront of the initiative.
Local experts and educators are optimistic about Gloucestershire’s role in AI advancement. Neil Smith, Managing Director of Reform IT, highlighted the region’s potential to develop talent and establish itself as a centre of excellence for AI development. Institutions such as the University of Gloucestershire and Berkeley Green UTC are already offering specialist courses in AI and cyber security. Gareth Lister, an educator, emphasised the need to integrate AI programming, cloud computing, and cybersecurity more prominently into school curriculums to prepare young people for emerging opportunities.
Dr Will Sayers, head of the University of Gloucestershire’s School for Computing, believes the county’s well-established cyber industry is a significant advantage. He pointed to the potential for local companies to form partnerships and capitalise on the government’s AI investment. With the growing focus on developing skilled talent and fostering innovation, Gloucestershire is on track to become a key player in the UK’s AI and cyber sectors.
China’s foreign ministry stated on Monday that companies should make independent decisions regarding their business operations and agreements. The remarks came in response to United States President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal requiring 50% US ownership of TikTok.
The proposed ownership demand has reignited tensions over the popular social media app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, as US officials continue to express concerns over national security and data privacy. Chinese officials have consistently emphasised the importance of allowing businesses to operate without undue government interference.
TikTok, which boasts millions of users worldwide, has faced scrutiny in several countries over its links to China. The foreign ministry’s statement highlights Beijing’s stance that such matters should remain in the hands of corporations rather than being dictated by political decisions.
Reports of an Instagram outage in the United Statesdropped significantly on Wednesday morning, indicating that the issue has been mostly resolved. According to Downdetector.com, which tracks service disruptions, the number of reported incidents fell from over 11,000 earlier in the day to just 619 by 9:32 a.m. ET.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the cause of the disruption. Last year, Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, experienced multiple outages, including a widespread global disruption in March.
Downdetector compiles outage data based on user-submitted reports, meaning the actual number of affected users may vary. Despite the initial surge in reports, the swift decline suggests that normal service has been restored for most Instagram users.
Users of the Chinese social media platform RedNote have welcomed an influx of American TikTok users, posting messages and selfies to greet the newcomers. The surge of over 700,000 users follows a looming US ban on TikTok, which has 170 million American users. Chinese foreign ministry officials have expressed support for greater cultural exchanges, while state media described RedNote as a “new home” for TikTok users.
The app, known as Xiaohongshu in China, has traditionally been used for lifestyle content but has now become an unexpected platform for US-China interactions. Many American users have asked about Chinese food, culture, and daily life, while Chinese users have eagerly responded. Some, however, have voiced concerns, with nationalist bloggers warning against Western influence.
Despite the warm reception from many, tensions have emerged over content and platform moderation. Some US users have tested RedNote’s censorship policies by posting about politically sensitive topics. Analysts believe the trend may be short-lived, as past instances of Western social media adoption in China, such as Clubhouse, ended with government restrictions. RedNote is reportedly working to improve its moderation of English-language content.
President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering an executive order that would postpone the enforcement of the TikTok sale-or-ban law for up to 90 days. According to sources cited by the Washington Post, the order would temporarily halt the requirement for TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest its US operations or face a ban.
The delay could provide more time for negotiations and potential deals to resolve security concerns raised by United States lawmakers. The law, passed under the Biden administration, aimed to address fears over TikTok’s links to China, but Trump has taken a more open stance towards the platform during his campaign.
A suspension of enforcement would offer relief to TikTok’s 170 million American users and businesses that rely on the app for advertising and engagement. The move, however, is likely to spark debate in Washington, where concerns over data security and Chinese influence remain key political issues.
