Discussions surrounding TikTok’s ownership and future in the US are intensifying, with President Trump indicating a decision could come within 30 days. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he confirmed conversations with multiple parties interested in acquiring the app. Trump emphasised substantial interest in TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users.
The White House is reportedly pursuing a plan involving Oracle and external investors to address national security concerns. The proposal under consideration would allow ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to retain a minority stake, while Oracle would oversee data management and software updates. These arrangements aim to allay fears of Chinese government interference.
Oracle’s involvement builds on its existing role in hosting TikTok’s US user data. However, Trump clarified he had not directly discussed the matter with Oracle’s Larry Ellison. Reports suggest ByteDance’s US investors, including Susquehanna International Group and Sequoia Capital, may also participate in the deal.
The situation remains fluid, with details of the potential agreement subject to change. While Trump has suggested US ownership in a joint venture, finalising a deal will require balancing Congressional scrutiny, national security considerations, and free speech concerns raised by TikTok’s advocates.
Some US TikTok users are voicing concerns over what they perceive as heightened content moderation following the app’s return. The platform, owned by China’s ByteDance, faced a temporary ban over national security concerns before being revived through an executive order. Although TikTok insists its policies remain unchanged, many users report noticeable differences in their experience.
Content creators claim that livestreams are less frequent and posts are being flagged or removed for guideline violations at higher rates. Some allege the platform has been restricting searches, issuing misinformation warnings, and deleting previously acceptable content, such as comments mentioning ‘Free Palestine’ or referencing political figures. TikTok asserts it does not permit violent or hateful content and blames temporary instability during the restoration of its US operations.
Prominent creators have shared their struggles. Comedian Pat Loller reported his satirical video on Elon Musk faced sharing restrictions, while political commentator Danisha Carter’s account was permanently banned for alleged policy violations. Other users describe strikes against seemingly harmless content, fuelling suspicions that moderation may target specific identities or viewpoints.
The controversy has revived debates about censorship and freedom of speech on social media platforms. As TikTok navigates its future, including potential acquisition by a US buyer, creators and users alike question the impact of these changes on online expression.
Meta has come under scrutiny after its AI chatbot failed to identify the current US president correctly. Despite Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, the chatbot continued to name Joe Biden as president through Thursday. The error led Meta to activate its high-priority troubleshooting protocol, a ‘site event’, to address the issue urgently.
The incident marked at least the third emergency Meta faced this week during the US presidential transition. Other problems included forcing users to re-follow Trump administration profiles on social media and hashtag search errors on Instagram. Meta attributed the re-following issue to delays in transferring White House accounts, which affected ‘unfollow’ requests.
Complaints also arose after searches for Democratic hashtags were blocked while Republican hashtags displayed results normally. Meta acknowledged the issue, claiming it affected searches for various hashtags across the platform. These errors come amid broader platform changes, including scrapping fact-checking programs and reshaping its leadership.
Critics have linked the missteps to perceived shifts in Meta’s political alignment. CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s attendance at Trump’s inauguration and recent strategic moves, such as appointing Trump allies to key positions, have fuelled debate over the platform’s neutrality.
Rivian, the US electric vehicle maker, and Volkswagen are in talks with other automakers about supplying them with software and electrical architecture through their joint venture. This collaboration, which began in November with Volkswagen’s $5.8 billion investment, aims to integrate advanced electrical infrastructure and Rivian’s software technology into both companies’ future EVs. Rivian’s streamlined vehicle architecture, which reduces weight and manufacturing complexity, also allows for over-the-air software updates, an area where traditional automakers have struggled to catch up.
Rivian‘s Chief Software Officer, Wassym Bensaid, revealed that other automakers are interested in the joint venture’s technology, though he declined to name them or provide details on the ongoing discussions. The venture is a key opportunity for established automakers to quickly access the technology they have long sought to develop themselves. For Rivian, the partnership provides higher volumes, better supplier deals, and a chance to reduce costs, especially important as EV demand slows.
Rivian focuses on launching its smaller, more affordable R2 SUV by 2027, while also expanding the integration of its technology into Volkswagen’s other brands. With increasing interest from additional OEMs, the joint venture is poised to become a significant player in the global EV market, particularly in the West, alongside Tesla. Analysts suggest the partnership helps Rivian address its capital concerns and positions it as a key player in the transition to software-defined vehicles.
Stargate, a new joint venture formed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, aims to build data centres across the US to support the growing demands of AI. According to a report by the Financial Times on Thursday, these data centres will be dedicated solely to OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT. The collaboration between these tech giants underscores the increasing importance of robust infrastructure to power the next wave of AI innovation.
The exclusive focus on OpenAI’s needs comes when AI technologies rapidly expand, with the demand for high-performance computing capabilities soaring. The partnership will allow OpenAI to scale its operations and provide the necessary computing power for its cutting-edge AI models. As companies worldwide race to develop more advanced AI tools, the infrastructure provided by Stargate is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the next generation of AI services.
Oracle and SoftBank’s involvement brings significant expertise in cloud infrastructure and global telecom, making the venture a powerful alliance in the competitive AI landscape. The project highlights the growing intersection of cloud computing, data storage, and AI as companies like OpenAI push the boundaries of what AI can achieve.
The founder and former CEO of GameOn, an AI startup in San Francisco, has been indicted for orchestrating a six-year-long fraud scheme that allegedly defrauded investors and the company out of over $60 million. Alexander Beckman, 41, faces 23 criminal charges, while his wife, Valerie Lau Beckman, 38, who worked as a lawyer for the company, is charged with 16 counts, including obstruction. Both have pleaded not guilty. The US Securities and Exchange Commission has also filed civil charges against the couple.
Beckman is accused of deceiving investors by inflating the company’s financial status, including fabricating fake customer relationships, overstating revenue, and creating fraudulent bank statements and audit reports. He allegedly went as far as impersonating individuals to share false information. Meanwhile, Lau Beckman allegedly assisted her husband by providing authentic audit reports to help fabricate false documents and delete critical files after an investigation began.
The Beckmans are also accused of misusing investor funds for personal expenses, including purchasing a luxury home, vehicles, and covering costs for their wedding. The fraudulent activities reportedly continued up until Beckman’s resignation as CEO in July 2024. GameOn, which has since been rebranded as On Platform, eventually admitted to the financial discrepancies and laid off most of its employees.
The case underscores the need for integrity in the tech industry, particularly within startups, as federal prosecutors emphasise that fraud cannot fuel innovation.
The US government is introducing the Cyber Trust Mark, a new security certification aimed at safeguarding smart home devices against cyber threats. Launching later this year, the programme will provide consumers with a clear indicator of which gadgets meet strict cybersecurity standards set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Devices such as smart cameras, fitness trackers, and baby monitors are among those eligible for the label.
To qualify, manufacturers must implement measures such as strong default passwords, software updates, and data protection protocols. Shoppers can also scan a QR code accompanying the label for detailed security information, including tips on setup and maintenance. The initiative comes in response to the rising threat of hackers targeting home networks, with the average US household now owning over 20 connected devices.
Retail giants like Amazon and Best Buy are backing the programme, highlighting compliant products to help consumers make informed choices. While the Cyber Trust Mark focuses on wireless Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets, some devices, including medical equipment, cars, and wired products, are excluded. The scheme marks a significant step toward protecting homes from cybercrime as digital threats continue to grow.
What impact this label will have on consumer habits remains to be seen, but it’s already drawing support from major tech firms like Google and Samsung, signalling a collective move towards better digital security.
Meta users in the US are experiencing an unusual phenomenon where they are being automatically re-followed by the accounts of President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and first lady Melania Trump. The issue emerged after users intentionally unfollowed these accounts following the administration’s transition. Feedback from users, including actress Demi Lovato and comedian Sarah Colonna, highlighted frustration over the inability to maintain their choice to unfollow prominent political figures.
Upon the change of administration, official White House social media accounts are supposed to transition smoothly to the new leaders. While Meta’s communications director Andy Stone acknowledged that followers from the Biden administration were carried over to Trump’s accounts, he confirmed that users were not being forced to re-follow these profiles. Stone suggested that delays in processing follow and unfollow requests might contribute to the confusion experienced by users.
Many individuals reported recurrent issues despite efforts to unfollow the accounts multiple times, raising questions about the underlying technicalities involved. Users are expressing concerns over privacy and choice in the use of social media platforms, as the ability to curate their feeds appears compromised. However, this automatic re-following could reflect broader implications for user control in digital spaces.
As Meta has yet to release a detailed response to the reported glitch, users continue to voice their concerns across multiple platforms. The situation underscores an ongoing need for clarity and assurance regarding user preferences in social media interactions, especially during a politically sensitive time.
ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, has allocated over 150 billion yuan ($20.64 billion) for capital expenditure this year, with a significant focus on AI, according to sources familiar with the matter. About half of the investment will support overseas AI infrastructure, including data centres and networking equipment. Beneficiaries of this spending are expected to include chipmakers Huawei, Cambricon, and US supplier Nvidia, although ByteDance has denied the accuracy of the claims.
The investment aims to solidify ByteDance’s AI leadership in China, where it has launched over 15 standalone AI applications, such as the popular chatbot Doubao, which boasts 75 million monthly active users. Its international counterparts include apps like Cici and Dreamina, reflecting ByteDance’s strategy to adapt its AI offerings globally. The company also recently updated its flagship AI model, Doubao, to rival reasoning models like those developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
ByteDance’s international spending aligns with its efforts to expand AI capabilities abroad amid challenges like the uncertain future of TikTok in the United States. While ByteDance’s $20 billion plan is substantial, it remains modest compared to the AI investments of US tech giants like Google and Microsoft, which spent $50 billion and $55.7 billion respectively on AI infrastructure in the past year. The spending will also bolster ByteDance’s partnerships with suppliers such as Nvidia, from which it has procured custom AI chips tailored to China despite US export restrictions.
TikTok users in the United States remain in limbo as the popular app continues to be unavailable for download from Apple and Google app stores. The platform, owned by China’s ByteDance, resumed service following a temporary shutdown, but legal uncertainties have prevented its return to digital storefronts.
The impasse stems from a US law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a nationwide ban due to national security concerns. President Trump recently extended the enforcement deadline, sparking debates about potential buyers, including high-profile figures like Elon Musk. However, no clear resolution has emerged, leaving users and tech giants caught in legal purgatory.
Some frustrated fans have resorted to selling devices with TikTok pre-installed for exorbitant prices on platforms like eBay. Others are attempting workarounds, such as location changes or VPNs, to regain access. Despite these efforts, confusion about TikTok’s long-term future has prompted some users to abandon the app entirely, citing dissatisfaction with political interference.
As negotiations continue, TikTok’s status in the US remains precarious, with both users and the company waiting anxiously for clarity on its fate.
