Jurisdiction

Trump signs executive order on speech rights

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday aimed at safeguarding free speech and ending online censorship. The move comes amid allegations by Trump and Republican allies that the Biden administration suppressed speech on social media platforms. Critics argue, however, that many of these accusations centred on government actions against misinformation about vaccines and elections, which courts have upheld as lawful.

Despite his push for free speech protections, Trump’s history complicates the message. Over the years, he has threatened and sued critics, including journalists, political opponents, and media organisations. Most notably, his lawsuits against Hillary Clinton and several major media outlets have either been dismissed or remain unresolved. Additionally, Trump faced social media restrictions following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, which was fueled by false election claims.

Legal experts, such as David Kaye, have dismissed Trump’s order as symbolic. Kaye criticised the move as contradictory, pointing to Trump’s labelling of the press as the “enemy of the people” while claiming to champion free speech. He argued the federal government is already prohibited from interfering with First Amendment rights, rendering the order largely redundant.

Trump delays TikTok ban with new order

Donald Trump has approved a 75-day delay in banning TikTok in the US through an executive order signed on Monday 20 January. The popular video app, owned by China’s ByteDance, faced potential closure due to national security concerns, but Trump suggested the US government should take a 50% stake in TikTok’s US business to secure its future. He also warned of possible tariffs on China if Beijing failed to endorse a deal.

The executive order, announced hours after Trump’s inauguration, sparked legal and political debates about its validity. Congress had previously mandated ByteDance to divest TikTok, a law upheld by the Supreme Court. Critics, including Representative Frank Pallone, argued Trump’s order bypassed bipartisan legislation. ByteDance has not confirmed any binding agreements to sell TikTok, leaving uncertainty over the app’s fate.

Tensions between the US and China underpin the TikTok saga, with Trump’s proposal for government ownership raising eyebrows. The idea would set a precedent, as no major social media platform has faced a ban or such a demand before. While Trump credited TikTok for engaging younger voters, his earlier efforts to ban the app had failed.

China expressed openness to discussions, emphasising that companies should make independent decisions about operations. Meanwhile, Trump’s order directed the Justice Department to assure companies like Google and Apple of no penalties during the delay. Whether the app will return to US app stores remains uncertain as talks continue.

EU audit highlights geo-blocking issues

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.

Trump rescinds Biden’s AI risk policies

Donald Trump has rescinded a 2023 executive order issued by Joe Biden aimed at mitigating risks associated with AI to consumers, workers, and national security. Biden’s order mandated that developers of high-risk AI systems share safety test results with the US government before public release, under the Defense Production Act. It also required federal agencies to establish safety standards addressing potential threats such as cybersecurity, chemical, and biological risks. This move came amid congressional inaction on AI legislation.

The Republican Party had pledged to overturn Biden’s order, claiming it stifled AI innovation. The party’s 2024 platform emphasises support for AI development that aligns with free speech and human progress. Generative AI technologies, capable of creating content like text and images, have sparked both excitement and concern over their potential to disrupt industries and eliminate jobs.

While Trump revoked Biden’s AI safety framework, he left intact another executive order issued last week that supports the energy needs of advanced AI data centres. Biden’s newer order calls for federal assistance, including leasing Defense and Energy Department sites, to support the rapid growth of AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, US companies like Nvidia have criticised recent Commerce Department restrictions on AI chip exports, reflecting ongoing tensions between regulation and innovation in the tech sector.

Meta, X, Google join EU code to combat hate speech

Major tech companies, including Meta’s Facebook, Elon Musk’s X, YouTube, and TikTok, have committed to tackling online hate speech through a revised code of conduct now linked to the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Announced Monday by the European Commission, the updated agreement also includes platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitch, expanding the coalition originally formed in 2016. The move reinforces the EU’s stance against illegal hate speech, both online and offline, according to EU tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen.

Under the revised code, platforms must allow not-for-profit organisations or public entities to monitor how they handle hate speech reports and ensure at least 66% of flagged cases are reviewed within 24 hours. Companies have also pledged to use automated tools to detect and reduce hateful content while disclosing how recommendation algorithms influence the spread of such material.

Additionally, participating platforms will provide detailed, country-specific data on hate speech incidents categorised by factors like race, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Compliance with these measures will play a critical role in regulators’ enforcement of the DSA, a cornerstone of the EU’s strategy to combat illegal and harmful content online.

Circle CEO expects US executive orders to boost crypto adoption

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire anticipates ‘imminent’ executive orders from incoming US President Donald Trump that could reshape the financial landscape for cryptocurrency. Allaire, whose company issues the USDC stablecoin, expects these orders to allow banks to trade crypto, offer crypto investments to high-net-worth clients, and even hold digital assets in portfolios.

Trump, who has positioned himself as a ‘crypto president,’ is expected to take action after his inauguration to reduce regulatory barriers for crypto and promote widespread adoption. Allaire pointed to repealing the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin 121, which has made it challenging for banks and financial institutions to hold crypto assets on their balance sheets.

Allaire also forecasted increased legislative activity surrounding digital asset regulations, with Congress expected to take a more active role in the coming weeks. Circle’s USDC is the world’s second-largest stablecoin, and Allaire’s comments signal growing optimism in the crypto sector following Trump’s election.

Zuckerberg defends AI training as copyright dispute deepens

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.

Donald Trump rebrings TikTok online

TikTok began restoring its services in the US on Sunday after President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to revive the app upon taking office on Monday. Speaking at a rally ahead of his inauguration, Trump assured his supporters that TikTok, a platform used by 170 million Americans, would be brought back online through a joint venture that protects national security. Hours earlier, TikTok users had received a message crediting Trump for the app’s restoration efforts.

TikTok ceased operations late Saturday after a law banning the platform on national security grounds came into effect. The shutdown sparked a frenzy among users and businesses dependent on the app, with web searches for VPNs surging and concerns mounting over disruptions to TikTok Shop transactions. The app’s temporary return relieves millions, but important questions remain about its long-term future in the US.

Trump’s pledge to extend the ban’s enforcement period to facilitate a deal marks a shift from his stance in 2020 when he sought to ban TikTok over concerns that its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, was sharing user data with Beijing. Trump now calls for a joint venture, proposing a 50% US ownership stake while guaranteeing that service providers would not face penalties for restoring TikTok.

Despite Trump’s assurances, the law mandating TikTok’s divestiture remains contentious. Republican lawmakers, including Senators Tom Cotton and Pete Ricketts, have criticised any attempt to circumvent the law, insisting that ByteDance sever all ties with China to meet the divestiture requirements. Meanwhile, TikTok’s ongoing connection to China continues to fuel tensions in US-China relations, with Beijing accusing Washington of unfairly targeting Chinese companies.

TikTok’s temporary return has reignited debates over its valuation, reportedly as high as $50 billion, and potential suitors, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and billionaire Elon Musk. While Beijing has reportedly discussed a possible sale, ByteDance denies such plans. Separately, US startup Perplexity AI has proposed merging with TikTok’s US operations to create a new entity.

The platform’s restoration signals its cultural and economic significance, but it also highlights the geopolitical complexities of its existence. Whether TikTok ultimately secures a deal or faces renewed legal battles, its journey reflects the growing and complicated intersection of technology, digital policies, cyber diplomacy, politics, and global commerce.

TikTok’s abrupt shutdown shakes the USA

TikTok’s future in the US took a dramatic turn late Saturday as the app went offline ahead of a Sunday deadline mandated by US law. The US government’s move, affecting 170 million US users, marks an unprecedented shutdown of one of the world’s most influential social media platforms.

The persistence of the US officials to ban TikTok stems from concerns over the platform’s ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, and potential risks to national security. As users grapple with the platform’s disappearance, President-elect Donald Trump has hinted at a possible 90-day extension to allow time for a resolution.

The shutdown comes after the Supreme Court upheld a law requiring TikTok to sever ties with ByteDance or cease US operations. ByteDance’s other apps, such as CapCut and Lemon8, were also removed from US app stores.

TikTok issued a message to users acknowledging the shutdown and expressing hope for a political resolution under the Trump administration, which takes office Monday 20 January 2025. Trump has indicated that he will announce an extension early next week.

The app’s disappearance has sparked many reactions among users, businesses, and competitors. Social media platforms like RedNote, Meta, and Snap have seen an influx of users and investor interest, while many TikTok creators expressed sadness and uncertainty online. Virtual private network (VPN) searches surged as users sought workarounds to access the platform, highlighting the app’s deep integration into American culture and commerce.

Despite the shutdown, speculation continues about TikTok’s future. ByteDance has reportedly been discussing with potential buyers, including billionaire Elon Musk and other US-based entities. Meanwhile, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is set to attend Trump’s inauguration, signalling possible negotiations to keep the platform operational. Proposals from new suitors, such as US search engine startup Perplexity AI, further illustrate the high stakes and value of TikTok’s US operations, which are estimated to be worth up to $50 billion.

The uncertainty has created a ripple effect, with businesses that rely on TikTok for marketing and e-commerce scrambling to adapt. Many worry about the broader implications of this shutdown, which has deepened tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The prospect of a political compromise looms as Trump prepares to take office, but whether TikTok can return to US screens remains uncertain. The platform’s sudden disappearance underscores the complex intersection of technology, geopolitics, and commerce, leaving millions of users and businesses in limbo.

China denies forcing firms to share user data

The Chinese government “has never and will never” require companies or individuals to collect or transfer data in ways that violate the law, China’s foreign ministry declared on Friday. The statement was issued in response to a privacy complaint filed by Austrian advocacy group Noyb, which accuses six Chinese companies, including TikTok, Shein, and Xiaomi, of unlawfully sending European Union user data to China.

Noyb, an organisation focused on data protection and privacy rights, alleges that the companies breached the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by transferring user data without proper safeguards. The complaint has sparked concerns in Europe about how personal information is handled by Chinese firms operating within the EU. If proven, the violations could result in significant fines and further scrutiny of these companies.

In defending the nation’s stance, a foreign ministry spokesperson emphasised that China operates within the bounds of international laws and rejects any claims of illegal data practices. “China strictly upholds its legal and regulatory framework and will never engage in or endorse actions that violate laws regarding data collection or transfer,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson also criticised what they described as “unfounded accusations” aimed at tarnishing Chinese businesses.

This case is the latest in a series of global concerns about data privacy and the practices of technology firms. It underscores the growing tension between nations over data security, cross-border data flows, and regulatory compliance, particularly as Chinese companies expand their presence in foreign markets. The outcome of Noyb’s complaint could have far-reaching implications for data governance and corporate practices in both Europe and China.