TikTok has unveiled a groundbreaking AI voiceover tool, empowering content creators with the ability to craft personalised voiceovers effortlessly. The new feature allows affiliates to enhance their content by aligning voiceovers with their brand’s tone, making it more engaging and authentic. The ease of use ensures even those with minimal technical skills can produce high-quality voiceovers, streamlining the content creation process.
Affiliate marketers are expected to benefit significantly from this innovation. The tool’s ability to produce custom voiceovers quickly allows marketers to focus more on strategy and less on time-consuming tasks. The AI-generated voices can be tailored to different audiences, enabling affiliates to reach a broader demographic and experiment with various accents and languages.
TikTok’s AI tool provides a cost-effective solution for those working with limited budgets, levelling the playing field between smaller affiliates and larger competitors. The enhanced engagement metrics with personalised content can lead to higher conversion rates, giving affiliates a competitive edge in the market.
As TikTok continues to innovate, staying informed and adaptable will be crucial for affiliates looking to maximise their success. Early adopters of the AI voiceover tool may find themselves ahead of the curve, reaping the benefits of increased audience engagement and improved performance metrics.
Nepal lifted its ban on the Chinese-owned app TikTok more than nine months after blocking the platform due to concerns that it disrupted social harmony. The decision came after TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, agreed to collaborate with Nepalese authorities to address cybercrime issues and regulate content on the app.
The ban, initially imposed in November by Nepal’s previous government, was a response to the rising misuse of TikTok, with over 1,600 cases of TikTok-related cybercrime reported in the country. The ban sparked protests from users who argued that it cut off a source of income and a platform for free expression, affecting the app’s 2.2 million users in Nepal.
To secure the app’s reinstatement, TikTok committed to establishing a dedicated unit to work with Nepal’s Cyber Bureau to monitor and address inappropriate content and criminal activities. This collaboration aims to enable real-time identification of offenders, which authorities hope will curb the misuse of the platform.
TikTok has contested claims made by the US Department of Justice in a federal appeals court, asserting that the government has inaccurately characterised the app’s ties to China. The company is challenging a law that mandates its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest TikTok’s US assets by January 19 or face a ban. TikTok argues that the app’s content recommendation engine and user data are securely stored in the US, with content moderation conducted domestically.
The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, reflects concerns over potential national security risks, with accusations that TikTok allows Chinese authorities to access American data and influence content. TikTok, however, contends that the law infringes on free speech rights, arguing that its content curation should be protected by the US Constitution.
The legislation also impacts app stores and internet hosting services, barring support for TikTok unless it is sold. The swift passage of the measure in Congress highlights ongoing fears regarding data security and espionage risks associated with the app.
The CEO of Tesla has drawn criticism after labelling UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as ‘#TwoTierKier’ and promoting a far-right conspiracy theory that claims white rioters are treated more harshly by the police than minorities. His comments have coincided with rising tensions and violent protests across the UK, where asylum centres are being boarded up as a precaution. Amidst the unrest, six thousand police officers are on standby to protect dozens of targeted locations, including asylum centres and law firms, from far-right attacks.
Elon Musk’s tweets have intensified the situation, with officials struggling to get posts removed from X, formerly known as Twitter, that are deemed threats to national security. The riots were triggered by the recent deaths of three children in Southport, leading to a surge in conspiracy theories and far-right activity on social media platforms, particularly Telegram. The messaging app has taken some action by removing a channel promoting violent protests, though it’s unclear whether this was prompted by UK authorities.
United Kingdom law enforcement has been cracking down on those inciting violence online, with arrests already being made. One high-profile arrest involved the wife of a Northampton councillor who called for asylum seeker hotels to be set on fire in a post on X. Meanwhile, rioters have been using TikTok Live to broadcast their actions, providing police with evidence to prosecute and charge over 100 individuals, with some already facing court proceedings.
Critics argue that Musk‘s influence is exacerbating the situation by amplifying extremist voices, including those who had been previously banned from social media. Courts Minister Heidi Alexander condemned Musk’s actions, calling them ‘irresponsible’ and ‘unconscionable.’ Meanwhile, Starmer has focused on the broader issue of online radicalisation, stressing the importance of legal consequences for those promoting violence.
TikTok and its parent company ByteDance are urging a US appeals court to dismiss the Justice Department’s request to keep parts of its legal case against TikTok confidential. The government aims to file over 15% of its brief and 30% of its evidence in secret, which TikTok argues would hinder its ability to challenge any potentially incorrect factual claims.
The Justice Department, which has not commented publicly, recently filed a classified document outlining security concerns regarding ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok. The document includes declarations from the FBI and other national security agencies.
The government contends that TikTok’s Chinese ownership poses a significant national security threat due to its access to vast amounts of personal data from American users and China’s potential for information manipulation.
In response, TikTok maintains that it has never and will never share US user data with China or manipulate video content as alleged. The company suggests appointing a district court judge as a special master to review the classified submissions if the court does not reject the secret evidence.
The Biden administration has asked the court to dismiss lawsuits filed by TikTok, ByteDance, and TikTok creators that aim to block a law requiring the divestiture of TikTok’s US assets by 19 January or face a ban. Despite the lack of evidence that the Chinese government has accessed US user data, the Justice Department insists that the potential risk remains too significant to ignore.
A coalition of 21 states and over 50 US lawmakers has supported the Justice Department’s mandate requiring China-based ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US assets by 19 January or face a ban. The collective, led by the attorneys general of Montana and Virginia, argues that TikTok threatens national security and consumer privacy, citing risks of the Chinese Communist Party exploiting user data.
Prominent lawmakers, including US Representative John Moolenaar and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, emphasised that the law offers a straightforward solution to mitigate the national security threats posed by TikTok’s ownership structure. The legislative measure, passed by Congress in April, reflects widespread concern over potential data access and surveillance by China.
In response, TikTok, its parent company ByteDance, and a group of TikTok creators have filed lawsuits to block the law. They argue that the ban violates the First Amendment rights of the 170 million Americans who use the app and claim no evidence supports the government’s security concerns.
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is set to hear oral arguments on the legal challenge on 16 September, amidst the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. The outcome of this case could significantly impact TikTok’s future operations in the United States.
ByteDance’s TikTok has agreed to permanently withdraw its TikTok Lite rewards program from the EU to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA), according to the European Commission. The TikTok Lite rewards program allowed users to earn points by engaging in activities like watching videos and inviting friends.
In April, the EU demanded a risk assessment from TikTok on the app shortly after its launch in France and Spain, citing concerns about its potential impact on children and users’ mental health. Under the DSA, large online platforms must report potential risks of new features to the EU before launching and adopting measures to address these risks.
The available brain time of young Europeans is not a currency for social media—and it never will be ⏳🧠
We have obtained the permanent withdrawal of #TikTokLite “rewards”program, which could have had very addictive consequences.
TikTok has made legally binding commitments to withdraw the rewards program from the EU and not to launch any similar program that would bypass this decision. Breaching these commitments would violate the DSA and could lead to fines. Additionally, an investigation into whether TikTok breached online content rules aimed at protecting children and ensuring transparent advertising is ongoing, putting the platform at risk of further penalties.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), supported by the Department of Justice (DOJ), has filed a lawsuit against TikTok and its parent company ByteDance for violating children’s privacy laws. The lawsuit claims that TikTok breached the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by failing to notify and obtain parental consent before collecting data from children under 13. The case also alleges that TikTok did not adhere to a 2019 FTC consent order regarding the same issue.
According to the complaint, TikTok collected personal data from underage users without proper parental consent, using this information to target ads and build user profiles. Despite knowing these practices violated COPPA, ByteDance and TikTok allowed children to use the platform by bypassing age restrictions. Even when parents requested account deletions, TikTok made the process difficult and often did not comply.
FTC Chair Lina M. Khan stated that TikTok’s actions jeopardised the safety of millions of children, and the FTC is determined to protect kids from such violations. The DOJ emphasised the importance of upholding parental rights to safeguard children’s privacy.
The lawsuit seeks civil penalties against ByteDance and TikTok and a permanent injunction to prevent future COPPA violations. The US District Court will review the case for the Central District of California.
Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, has fined Alphabet’s Google and TikTok for not complying with orders to remove banned content. The Tagansky district court in Moscow imposed a 5 million rouble ($58,038) fine on Google and a 4 million rouble fine on TikTok. These penalties were issued because both platforms failed to identify content similar to what was previously ordered to be removed.
This is part of a broader effort by Russia over the past several years to enforce the removal of content it considers illegal from foreign technology platforms. Although relatively small, the fines have been persistent, reflecting Russia’s ongoing scrutiny and regulation of online content.
Moscow has been particularly critical of Google, especially for taking down YouTube channels associated with Russian media and public figures. Neither Google nor TikTok immediately responded to requests for comment on the fines.
The US Justice Department has raised the alarm over TikTok’s potential influence on American politics, arguing that the app’s continued operation under ByteDance, its Chinese parent company, could enable covert interference by the Chinese government in US elections. In a recent federal court filing, prosecutors suggested that TikTok’s algorithm might be manipulated to sway public opinion and influence political discourse, posing a significant threat to national security.
The filing is part of a broader legal battle as TikTok challenges a new US law that could force a ban on the app unless its ownership is transferred by January 2025. The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, addresses concerns over TikTok’s ties to China and its potential to compromise US security. TikTok argues that the law infringes on free speech and restricts access to information, as it targets a specific platform and its extensive global user base.
The Justice Department contends that the law aims not to suppress free speech but to address unique national security risks posed by TikTok’s connection to a foreign power. They suggest a possible solution could involve selling TikTok to an American company, allowing the app to continue operating in the US without interruption.
Why does this matter?
Concerns about TikTok’s data practices have been a focal point, with officials warning that the app collects extensive personal information from users, including location data and private messages. The department also pointed to technologies in China that could potentially influence the app’s content and raise further worries about the app’s role in data collection and content manipulation.
The debate highlights a clash between national security concerns and the protection of digital freedoms, as the outcome of the lawsuit could set a significant precedent for how the US handles foreign tech influence.
