An Indian court has temporarily suspended a ban on data sharing between WhatsApp and its parent company, Meta. The ban, imposed by India’s competition regulator last year, had restricted WhatsApp from sharing user data with other Meta platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, for advertising purposes.
Meta had argued that this restriction would severely impact its business model and potentially force it to roll back features. The court acknowledged the potential harm to WhatsApp’s business and agreed to suspend the ban while it continues to hear Meta’s appeal.
India is a crucial market for Meta, with hundreds of millions of users across its platforms. The company had warned that the data sharing restrictions would prevent businesses from effectively targeting ads to relevant audiences, hindering their ability to grow and reach customers. The court’s decision provides a temporary reprieve for Meta while the legal battle continues.
The Indian competition regulator had argued that WhatsApp’s data sharing practices were anti-competitive and unfairly benefited Meta. However, Meta maintained that the data sharing was necessary for providing a seamless user experience and offering valuable services to businesses. The court’s decision highlights the ongoing debate surrounding data privacy and the use of user data for targeted advertising.
LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, faces a class-action lawsuit from its Premium customers who allege that the platform improperly shared their private messages with third parties to train AI models. The lawsuit alleges that LinkedIn introduced a new privacy setting last August that allowed users to control the sharing of their data, yet failed to adequately inform them about the use of their messages for AI training.
Customers claim that a stealthy update to LinkedIn’s privacy policy on 18 September outlined this data usage, while also stating that opting out of data sharing would not prevent past training from being utilised.
The plaintiffs, representing millions of Premium users, seek damages for breaches of contract and violations of California’s unfair competition laws. In addition, they demand compensation of $1,000 for each individual affected by alleged violations of the federal Stored Communications Act. The lawsuit highlights concerns over the potential misuse of customer data, asserting that LinkedIn deliberately obscured its practices to evade scrutiny regarding user privacy.
LinkedIn has denied the allegations, stating that the claims lack merit. The legal action arose just hours after President Donald Trump announced a significant AI investment initiative, backed by Microsoft and other major companies. In San Jose, California, the case has been filed as De La Torre v. LinkedIn Corp in the federal district court.
With privacy becoming an increasingly crucial issue, the implications of this lawsuit could resonate throughout the tech industry. Customers are scrutinising platforms’ commitments to safeguarding personal information, especially in the context of rapidly evolving AI technologies.
UK citizens will soon be able to carry essential documents, such as their passport, driving licence, and birth certificates, in a digital wallet on their smartphones. This plan was unveiled by Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, as part of a broader initiative to streamline interactions with government services. The digital wallet, set to launch in June, aims to simplify tasks like booking appointments and managing government communications.
Initially, the digital wallet will hold a driving licence and a veteran card, with plans to add other documents like student loans, vehicle tax, and benefits. The government is also working with the Home Office to include digital passports, although these will still exist alongside physical versions. The app will be linked to an individual’s ID and could be used for various tasks, such as sharing certification or claiming welfare discounts.
Security and privacy concerns have been addressed, with recovery systems in place for lost phones and strong data protection measures. Kyle emphasised that the app complies with current data laws and features like facial recognition would enhance security. He also reassured that while the system will be convenient for smartphone users, efforts will be made to ensure those without internet access aren’t left behind.
The technology, developed in the six months since Labour took power, is part of a push to modernise government services. Kyle believes the new digital approach will help create a more efficient and user-friendly relationship between citizens and the state, transforming the public service experience.
OpenAI has told an Indian court that removing training data used for its ChatGPT service would conflict with its legal obligations in the United States. The company, backed by Microsoft, is defending a copyright lawsuit filed by Indian news agency ANI, which accuses OpenAI of using its content without permission and demands the deletion of ANI’s data from ChatGPT’s memory.
In a January 10 filing, OpenAI argued that Indian courts lack jurisdiction as the company has no physical presence or data servers in India. It also emphasised its legal obligation in the US to preserve training data while litigation is ongoing. OpenAI denied wrongdoing, asserting its systems make fair use of publicly available data, a stance it has maintained in similar copyright disputes globally.
ANI insists the Delhi court has the authority to rule on the case, citing concerns over unfair competition and alleging that ChatGPT reproduces its content verbatim. OpenAI, however, countered that ANI manipulated prompts to elicit such responses. The court is set to hear the case on January 28, marking a key moment in India’s scrutiny of AI and copyright law.
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.
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is once again under fire by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) over its ad-free subscription service. Introduced in 2023, the fee-based option offered European users the ability to opt out of personalised ads, with a subsequent price cut of 40% implemented later that year. However, BEUC claims these changes are merely superficial and fail to address deeper concerns about fairness and compliance with EU consumer and privacy laws.
BEUC’s Director General, Agustin Reyna, criticised Meta for not providing users with a fair choice, alleging that the company still pressures users into accepting its behavioural advertising system. Reyna called on consumer protection authorities and the European Commission to investigate Meta’s practices urgently, emphasising the need for decisive action to safeguard users’ rights. The consumer group also accused Meta of misleading practices, unclear terms, and failing to minimise data collection while restricting services for users who decline data processing.
In response, a Meta spokesperson defended the company’s approach, arguing that its November 2023 updates go beyond EU regulatory requirements. Despite these assurances, EU antitrust regulators have raised concerns, accusing Meta of breaching the Digital Markets Act. They claim the ad-free service forces users into a binary choice, sparking broader concerns about how the tech giant balances profit with consumer protection.
As pressure mounts, Meta faces growing scrutiny over its compliance with EU laws, with regulators weighing potential measures to address BEUC’s allegations and ensure fair treatment for European users.
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.
The UK government has introduced a new AI assistant named ‘Humphrey,’ inspired by the scheming character Sir Humphrey Appleby from the sitcom Yes, Minister. This innovative suite of digital tools aims to modernise civil service workflows, reduce costs, and simplify tasks such as summarising public feedback and searching parliamentary records.
The initiative forms part of a broader overhaul of government digital services, announced by Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. Central to this plan are two new apps for secure document storage, including digital driving licences. The Humphrey AI tools, particularly Consult and Parlex, are designed to replace costly external consultants and assist policymakers in navigating parliamentary debates.
Despite the programme’s ambitions, the choice of name has sparked debate. Critics like Tim Flagg from UKAI argue that the association with Sir Humphrey’s ‘devious and controlling’ persona might undermine trust in the technology. However, Flagg also expressed optimism about the government’s technical capabilities, calling the project a positive step towards embracing AI.
The UK government insists that these tools will foster efficiency and collaboration, with improved data sharing between departments being another key feature of the initiative. By cutting consultancy costs and increasing transparency, officials hope Humphrey will become a symbol of progress, rather than parody.
