Disappointment and confusion swept across TikTok users in the United States as news broke that ByteDance, the app’s Chinese owner, plans to shut down the platform for its 170 million US users by Sunday. The move comes in response to a federal ban requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US assets by January 19 due to national security concerns. While some users hold out hope for a last-minute reprieve, many are preparing for the worst.
Content creators, many of whom have built careers and followings on TikTok, expressed frustration and sadness. Some vowed to boycott rival platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and X, while others scrambled to save their content. True crime creator Amber Goode, from Colorado, criticised the government for “playing with us,” while other users shared instructions on migrating to alternative platforms, including China-based apps like RedNote.
TikTok has maintained that it does not and would never share US user data with China, arguing that the ban violates First Amendment rights. Unless the Supreme Court intervenes, users attempting to open the app on Sunday will be redirected to a shutdown information page. President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly exploring executive actions to delay the ban, but the outcome remains uncertain.
The shutdown has sparked mixed emotions globally, with some international users relieved that American social media issues may no longer dominate their feeds. However, for US creators like Ishpal Sidhu, who stands to lose her livelihood, the uncertainty has cast a shadow over what was once a thriving platform.
Italian startup iGenius has launched Colosseum 355B, a large language model built using the latest Nvidia technology, designed for industries with strict data protection and compliance needs. CEO Uljan Sharka highlighted the challenges that tight regulations pose for AI adoption in sectors like finance, heavy industry, and government, where data security is paramount.
Unlike major competitors like OpenAI, iGenius offers open-source AI models that allow companies to run the technology on their own infrastructure, ensuring that sensitive data remains in-house. The startup is already in talks with potential clients in the financial services and industrial sectors.
Sharka also traveled to Brussels to present the new model to the European Commission, aiming to gain regulatory approval and foster wider adoption in Europe’s heavily regulated markets.
Austrian advocacy group Noyb has filed privacy complaints against six Chinese companies, including TikTok, Shein, and Xiaomi, alleging illegal transfers of European user data to China. The group, known for targeting US tech giants like Apple and Meta, said this is its first case against Chinese firms. Complaints have been filed in four EU countries, seeking fines of up to 4% of each company’s global revenue.
Noyb claims that companies such as Alibaba’s AliExpress and Tencent’s WeChat transfer EU citizens’ data either directly to China or undisclosed ‘third countries,’ which are likely China. Under EU data protection laws, such transfers are prohibited if the destination country fails to meet the bloc’s strict privacy standards. A Noyb lawyer emphasised that China’s status as a ‘surveillance state’ makes such transfers clearly unlawful.
The allegations add to mounting regulatory challenges for Chinese tech firms. TikTok, already under scrutiny in Europe for election interference concerns, faces a potential US ban starting Sunday over national security fears. Regulators in multiple regions continue to ramp up pressure on Chinese companies amid growing global concerns over data privacy and security.
TikTok is preparing to shut down its US operations on Sunday unless a federal ban is averted at the last minute, according to sources. The ban, stemming from a law signed last April, requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US assets by January 19 or face nationwide restrictions. The Supreme Court is currently deliberating on whether to uphold or pause the ban, but no ruling has been made yet.
President-elect Donald Trump, set to take office the day after the ban would take effect, is reportedly considering a temporary suspension of the shutdown. However, legal uncertainty clouds the possibility of such action. Meanwhile, the Biden administration, in its final days, has signalled it will not block the ban without a credible divestment plan from ByteDance. TikTok has argued that the law violates First Amendment rights and warned that a prolonged ban could lead to significant user loss and global disruptions to its services.
If the ban proceeds, TikTok plans to display a pop-up message informing users of the shutdown and allow them to download their data. The app would become largely inoperable as US companies would no longer be permitted to provide critical services for its maintenance. TikTok has emphasised its ability to restore operations quickly if the ban is reversed but warned that the shutdown would impact not just American users but its global platform due to its reliance on US-based infrastructure.
The political and legal standoff has sparked widespread public and corporate reactions. Social media users have expressed disappointment at the impending ban, while TikTok’s US operations, employing over 7,000 workers, hang in the balance. Despite ongoing efforts to delay the enforcement, the platform faces an uncertain future as Sunday’s deadline looms.
OpenAI has introduced a new beta feature called Tasks in ChatGPT, expanding into the virtual assistant market. Tasks will let users schedule future actions such as reminders for concert ticket sales or recurring updates like daily weather reports.
ChatGPT may also suggest tasks based on user conversations, with users retaining control to accept or decline them. The feature aims to compete with virtual assistants like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, both of which are being enhanced with AI capabilities.
The updated Alexa will include generative AI features for task automation, with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announcing its launch in the coming months. Apple has also integrated ChatGPT into Siri under its ‘Apple Intelligence’ initiative, seeking user permission for queries sent to OpenAI’s service.
Brazil’s government has expressed serious concerns over Meta’s recent changes to its hate speech policy, warning that the adjustments may not comply with national legislation. The social media giant, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, has eased restrictions on discussions around sensitive topics such as immigration and gender identity while also ending its fact-checking programme in the United States. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva previously called the policy shift “extremely serious,” prompting officials to demand clarification from Meta.
Meta has responded by stating that fact-checking changes currently apply only in the United States and that adjustments to its community standards remain limited to hate speech policy. The company argues that the revisions aim to promote greater freedom of expression, but Brazil’s solicitor general’s office believes the changes are insufficient to protect fundamental rights. Government ministries have raised concerns that Meta’s updated terms of use may violate Brazilian law, particularly in relation to online discourse and misinformation.
A public hearing will be held later this week to discuss the potential impact of Meta’s policy changes. The government is engaging experts to assess whether the new rules align with Brazil’s legal framework and ensure that social media platforms uphold protections against hate speech. Authorities are monitoring how the changes affect digital content regulation as they consider further action to address concerns over online safety and misinformation.
China has announced plans to intensify measures against unauthorised data handling, targeting black and grey markets involved in illegal data sales and distribution. New regulations aim to improve governance over data circulation security while curbing systemic risks.
Authorities emphasised the need for stronger data security risk monitoring across critical industries to safeguard national security and maintain social stability. Measures will focus on preventing widespread misuse and addressing vulnerabilities in data handling practices.
Chinese courts also committed to enhancing market order by applying the rule of law. Legal actions will target activities disrupting the socialist economy, following a rise in economic crimes.
The US Justice Department has removed malware from over 4,200 computers worldwide in an operation targeting a hacking group linked to the Chinese government. The malware, known as ‘PlugX,’ was used to steal information and compromise systems across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Investigators identified the cybercriminals behind the attack as ‘Mustang Panda’ and ‘Twill Typhoon,’ groups believed to have received financial support from China.
Court documents filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania allege that the Chinese government paid Mustang Panda to develop PlugX. The malware has been active since at least 2014 and was used not only to target governments and businesses but also Chinese political dissidents. Officials described the operation as a critical step in neutralising cyber threats backed by foreign states.
Authorities emphasised the growing risks posed by state-sponsored hacking groups and their ability to infiltrate global networks. The Justice Department remains committed to dismantling cyber threats and preventing adversaries from exploiting sensitive information. The scale of the attack highlights the persistent threat of cyber espionage and the need for international cooperation in addressing cybersecurity challenges.
The US Supreme Court will hear a challenge on Wednesday regarding a Texas law that mandates adult websites verify the age of users before granting access to potentially harmful material. The law, which is part of a broader trend across Republican-led states, requires users to submit personal information proving they are at least 18 years old to access pornographic content. The case raises significant First Amendment concerns, as adult entertainment industry groups argue that the law unlawfully restricts free speech and exposes users to risks such as identity theft and data breaches.
The challengers, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Free Speech Coalition, contend that alternative methods like content-filtering software could better protect minors without infringing on adults’ rights to access non-obscene material. Texas, however, defends the law, citing concerns over the ease with which minors can access explicit content online.
This case is significant because it will test the balance between state efforts to protect minors from explicit content and the constitutional rights of adults to access protected expression. If the Supreme Court upholds the law, it could set a precedent for similar age-verification measures across the US.
A French interior designer, identified as Anne, has fallen victim to a sophisticated scam in which she was tricked into believing she was in a relationship with actor Brad Pitt. Over the course of a year, the scammer, using AI-generated images and fake social media profiles, manipulated Anne into sending €830,000 for purported cancer treatment after a fabricated story involving the actor’s frozen bank accounts.
The scam began when Anne received messages from a fake ‘Jane Etta Pitt,’ claiming the Hollywood star needed someone like her. As Anne was going through a divorce, the AI-generated Brad Pitt sent declarations of love, eventually asking for money under the guise of urgent medical needs. Despite doubts raised by her daughter, Anne transferred large sums, believing she was saving a life.
The truth came to light when Anne saw Brad Pitt in the media with his current partner, and it became clear she had been scammed. However, instead of support, her story has been met with cyberbullying, including mocking social media posts from groups like Toulouse FC and Netflix France. The harassment has taken a toll on Anne’s mental health, and police are now investigating the scam.
The case highlights the dangers of AI scams, the vulnerabilities of individuals, and the lack of empathy in some online responses.
