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.
Spanish Labour Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz announced her decision to leave Elon Musk’s social media platform X, citing concerns over its promotion of xenophobia and far-right ideologies. In a TV interview, Díaz criticised Musk’s behaviour during events linked to Donald Trump’s inauguration, as well as his recent speeches and gestures, which some interpreted as controversial.
Díaz’s departure follows backlash against Musk for raising his arm in a gesture at an inauguration-related event. While critics compared it to a Nazi salute, the Anti-Defamation League dismissed the claim, calling it an awkward moment of enthusiasm. Musk himself rejected the criticism as baseless.
The Spanish minister said her decision extends to personal and political posts and noted that members of her left-wing Sumar party would also leave the platform. This move aligns with other recent departures, including Germany’s Defence and Foreign Ministries, which cited dissatisfaction with X’s direction, joining universities in Germany and the UK in distancing themselves from the platform.
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.
Lina Khan, a prominent advocate of strong antitrust enforcement, has announced her resignation as chair of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a memo to staff. Her departure, set to occur in the coming weeks, marks the end of a tenure that challenged numerous corporate mergers and pushed for greater accountability among powerful companies.
During her leadership, Khan spearheaded high-profile lawsuits against Amazon, launched investigations into Microsoft, and blocked major deals, including Kroger’s planned $25 billion acquisition of Albertsons. Her efforts often focused on protecting consumers and workers from potential harms posed by dominant corporations.
Khan, the youngest person to lead the FTC, first gained recognition in 2017 for her work criticising Amazon’s market practices. She argued that tech giants exploited outdated antitrust laws, allowing them to sidestep scrutiny. Her aggressive approach divided opinion, with courts striking down some of her policies, including a proposed ban on noncompete clauses.
Following Khan’s exit, the FTC faces a temporary deadlock with two Republican and two Democratic commissioners. Republican Andrew Ferguson has assumed the role of chair, and a Republican majority is expected once the Senate approves Mark Meador, a pro-enforcement nominee, to complete the five-member commission.
Samsung and LG Electronics may shift some home appliance production from Mexico to the United States, according to a South Korean news report. The potential move follows former President Donald Trump’s announcement of possible 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, set to take effect on February 1.
Samsung is reportedly considering relocating dryer production to its South Carolina plant, while LG may move refrigerator production to its Tennessee factory, which already produces washing machines and dryers. Both companies are evaluating their operations as they adapt to market changes and trade policies.
In statements, Samsung emphasised its flexible global production strategy, while LG highlighted its commitment to adjusting production systems to meet market demands. These considerations reflect broader shifts in manufacturing strategies due to trade uncertainties.
Russian state-linked hackers, operating under the unit Star Blizzard, have launched a new phishing campaign targeting the WhatsApp accounts of government ministers and officials worldwide. According to Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Star Blizzard, linked to Russia’s FSB spy agency, aims to undermine political trust in the UK and other similar nations.
Victims receive an email impersonating a US government official, inviting them to join a WhatsApp group. The email contains a QR code that, when scanned, links the victim’s WhatsApp account to an attacker-controlled device or WhatsApp Web, granting the hacker access to sensitive messages. Microsoft confirmed that this tactic allows hackers to exfiltrate data but did not specify whether data was successfully stolen.
The campaign has targeted individuals involved in diplomacy, defence, and Ukraine-related initiatives. This marks the latest attempt by Star Blizzard, which had previously targeted British MPs, universities, and journalists. Microsoft noted that while the campaign seemed to have wound down by November, the use of QR codes in phishing attacks, or ‘quishing,’ shows the hackers’ continued efforts to gain access to sensitive information.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, emphasised that users should avoid scanning suspicious QR codes and should only link their accounts through official services. Experts also recommend verifying suspicious emails by contacting the sender directly through a known, trusted email address.
Bluesky has launched a vertical video feed, positioning itself as a competitor in the short-video space amidst uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the US. This new feature is accessible via the Explore tab and allows users to scroll through trending videos by swiping up. For convenience, users can pin the feed to their home screen or add it to their list of custom feeds.
Acknowledging developers building TikTok alternatives, Bluesky highlighted emerging platforms such as ‘Tik.Blue’ and ‘Skylight.Social,’ which are currently in early development stages. These efforts align with Bluesky’s growth, as the platform has surpassed 28 million users.
Other platforms are also leveraging TikTok’s precarious situation. Elon Musk’s X recently introduced a vertical video feed, while Meta unveiled Edits, a video editing app to rival ByteDance’s CapCut. Bluesky’s latest move highlights a broader shift among social networks seeking to capture the short-video audience in the US and globally.
Social platform X has unveiled a vertical video feed for its US audience, aiming to capture users left adrift by the removal of ByteDance’s apps like TikTok and Lemon8 from US app stores. The new feature, accessible through a dedicated video tab, offers a streamlined way for users to view video content.
This update builds on existing functionality, where users could already scroll through videos by tapping them on their timeline. The video tab, however, marks the platform’s first dedicated space for short-form video. X has been increasingly focused on enhancing its video offerings, having launched a standalone TV app last year to feature content from creators and organisations.
As TikTok grapples with regulatory challenges, other platforms are seizing the opportunity. Meta recently introduced Edits, a video editing tool aimed at rivaling ByteDance’s CapCut, while Bluesky has rolled out its own vertical video feed. X’s latest move signals a strategic pivot to bolster its video presence and compete in this evolving digital landscape.
Social network X is introducing a dedicated vertical video feed for users, aiming to capitalise on the removal of ByteDance apps like TikTok and Lemon8 from US app stores. The new video tab, added to the app’s bottom bar, provides users quick access to immersive video content.
X users could scroll through short videos by tapping them in their timeline, but the new tab creates a dedicated space for videos. This marks the platform’s latest effort to enhance video experiences, following the launch of a standalone TV app last year to showcase content from creators and organisations.
As TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain, other social networks are seizing the opportunity. Meta recently announced a video editing app, Edits, to rival ByteDance’s CapCut, while Bluesky introduced a custom feed for vertical videos, further intensifying competition in the short video market.
A major data breach involving telecom provider AT&T has compromised sensitive information about FBI agents’ call and text logs. The incident, which occurred last year, exposed phone numbers and contact details, though not the content of communications. FBI officials warn that the breach may risk revealing the identities of confidential informants.
AT&T reported in July that hackers had stolen records linked to 109 million customer accounts. Among the stolen data were months of FBI call logs, potentially connecting agents to their sources. While AT&T claims to have collaborated with law enforcement to mitigate the damage, the FBI continues to prioritise protecting its informants.
The breach has reignited concerns about cyber-espionage targeting US telecom networks. Earlier this month, the US national security adviser highlighted ongoing threats from Chinese-linked cyber operations. Although telecom firms, including AT&T and Verizon, say their systems are now secure, the incident underscores the persistent risks posed by sophisticated hackers.
