DOJ probing TikTok over spying allegations targeting US journalists
The probe into ByteDance stems from the company’s acknowledgment in December that employees had obtained data of U.S. TikTok users.
US Government demands TikTok be sold or face possible ban
The Biden administration has reportedly demanded that TikTok be sold off from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a potential ban in the US. Officials from the Committee on Foreign Investment have warned the company that the government plans to implement a ban if the ownership structure is not changed, due to concerns over national security risks and potential access to US user data.
This marks a significant escalation in scrutiny of the app, following similar concerns raised by both US officials and legislators.
TikTok introduces a "Refresh" button to For You page as CEO faces Congress hearing on child protection
TikTok announces a new "Refresh" button feature, which allows users to reset the "For You" page of the app and provides new video recommendations based on their time on the app from that date.
While this feature's launch aims to freshen up their recommendation feeds, CEO Shou Zi Chew is due to testify before Congress next week to answer questions about TikTok's policies and measures in place to protect children against inappropriate content and potential exploitation.
TikTok CEO to assure US lawmakers over user data concerns
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will testify before the US House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee to address concerns over the video-sharing app's data privacy and potential links to the Chinese government.
The hearing comes amid growing pressure from US lawmakers to ban TikTok, which has more than 150 million American users.
Chew will state that TikTok has never shared or received a request to share US user data with the Chinese government and claimed that its parent company ByteDance is not owned or controlled by any government or state entity.
Concerns over TikTok's data security risks
TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned video-sharing app, is once again facing accusations of sharing user data with the Chinese government and pushing propaganda.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the US has reportedly threatened to ban the app unless its Chinese owner divests their stake out of concerns over national security.
The FBI and Federal Communications Commission have previously warned that TikTok's Chinese parents could share user data with China.
However, China's Foreign Ministry dismissed the US report as disinformation and accused the US of spreading rumors.
TikTok's security concerns spark bans across nations
New Zealand becomes the latest country to target TikTok, banning it on government phones
UK government bans TikTok on official devices citing security concerns
The UK government has announced that TikTok will be banned on official devices due to security and privacy concerns.
The British officials are worried about how the sensitive data collected by the Chinese-owned video app could compromise government and citizen data, and ultimately undermine the country's security interests.
The Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden stated that "The security of sensitive government information must come first, so today we are banning this app on government devices.
The use of other data-extracting apps will be kept under review."
TikTok star dies just weeks after complaining about persistent migraines
Family said mother-of-two’s death was ‘totally unexpected’ and they are ‘absolutely heartbroken’ by the news
5 best skin scents from TikTok's no-perfume perfume trend, in UAE, for 2023
Discover minimalist, skin-like perfumes for everyday wear that enhance your personal scent
New Zealand lawmakers banned from TikTok amid data use fears
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand lawmakers and other workers inside the nation's Parliament will be banned from having the TikTok app on their government phones, officials said Friday. The ban, which takes effect at the end of the month, follo
BBC Urges Staff to Delete TikTok from Corporate Phones
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has advised its employees to remove video-sharing app TikTok from their corporate mobile phones over security and privacy concerns raised by authorities.
The UK government recently banned TikTok from mobile phones used by civil servants and ministers, and the BBC's decision in this regard is in line with the government's move.
The BBC could further update the guidance if the need arises.
Surprisingly, Tiktok has consistently rejected any privacy breach allegations.
Is TikTok Facing a Possible Ban in America?
TikTok's Chief Executive, Shou Zi Chew, is set to testify before Congress on March 23rd as the Chinese-owned video-sharing app's 100m users in America worry about a potential ban due to security concerns.
Meanwhile, American social media firms are happy about the possible ban as they want to remove their biggest rival.
This has led to a change in the share prices of Snap, Pinterest, Meta and other companies.
The future of Tiktok remains uncertain.
Police speak to Rishi Sunak's family after letting dog roam free in Hyde Park
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's family were spoken to by police after allowing their dog to roam free in Hyde Park in London.
A video posted on TikTok showed Mr. Sunak's dog, Nova, darting around without a leash by Serpentine lake, an area where dogs should be kept on a leash.
The incident occurred after the Prime Minister was filmed breaking the rules of the park.
In response, the Metropolitan Police said that an officer had spoken to a woman and reminded her of the rules.
Spotify's Interface Upgraded with New Features for Artists
Spotify has announced the biggest ever interface overhaul to address criticism for turning music into a utility.
The changes, set to launch in the UK in the coming weeks, include the ability for artists to add 30-second videos, target superfans with special releases, and promote merchandising and gig tickets.
A redesigned homepage featuring a feed of short-form videos gives the platform a TikTok-like feel.
The move comes after criticism that Spotify's uniform presentation revealed little of an artist's hard work or distinct narrative behind their releases.
TikTok Announces Security Measures to Protect User Data
TikTok has launched a new data security regime, called "Project Clover", which aims to protect user information in Europe in the wake of growing political pressure to ban the social media app.
The plan includes storing European user data locally with two new data centers in Dublin and Norway, greater control over employee access to European user information, and data transfers being vetted by a third-party IT company.
This comes after the European Parliament, European Commission, and EU Council banned TikTok from staff phones due to concerns over China harvesting user data or advancing its interests, while the White House has backed legislation to ban the app due to national security threats.
Biden administration to decide on approval of major Alaskan oil project
The Biden administration is considering the approval of the Willow oil project in Alaska's North Slope area.
While supporters emphasize the project's potential as an economic lifeline for Indigenous communities, environmentalists argue it is inconsistent with President Biden's climate goals.
The decision is expected to be announced by early March.
A$AP Rocky cheers on Rihanna at Oscars performance
Singer Rihanna performed her Oscar-nominated song "Lift Me Up" from the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at the Oscars ceremony while boyfriend A$AP Rocky cheered her on from the audience.
The rapper was seen giving his girlfriend a standing ovation and cheering during her performance.
Rihanna arrived at the event wearing a casual outfit that included a Philadelphia Eagles jersey, bucket hat, and sneakers.
The couple also shared a sweet moment backstage where he cradled her growing belly as they smiled for photographs.
Everything But the Girl and LeAnn Rimes' rise to fame, and UK's Eurovision 2023 entrant announced
The articles cover three stories related to the music industry.
The first article by The Guardian talks about Everything But the Girl's incredible turnaround in the mid-'90s, when they became famous with their successful album "Walking Wounded.
" LeAnn Rimes, who won a Grammy at the age of 14 for her cover of "Blue," is featured in the second article by The Guardian.
She later became a pop star with her song "Can't Fight the Moonlight" appearing in the film Coyote Ugly.
The third article by Sky News announces Mae Muller as the UK's Eurovision 2023 entrant.
Muller is a singer-songwriter who has toured with Little Mix and was discovered while working in a pub.
The rise of BORGs, a new binge drinking trend among college students fueled by social media
The New York Times reports on the rise in popularity of BORGs, a mixture of water, alcohol, sweet flavorings and a hangover remedy that has become increasingly popular on college campuses across the United States.
The trend has been fueled, in large part, by social media with TikTok videos showing students brandishing their jugs of the drink at parties and giving tutorials on how to make it.
However, the trend has raised concerns as it has resulted in a number of alcohol intoxication cases, with universities and towns issuing warnings about the potential dangers of BORGs.
FBI & White House concerned of national security threat posed by TikTok
The FBI Director, Christopher Wray, claimed that China's government could use TikTok to control millions of American users and sensitive data.
Wray also stated that the Chinese government could drive narratives to divide Americans over issues like Taiwan.
A dozen senators proposed legislation to give President Biden's administration new powers to ban TikTok and any other foreign-based technologies that may pose national security threats.
Finance boss who stole over £90,000 from cancer charity ordered to pay just £1.
Paula Tribbeck, a former financial coordinator at Wessex Cancer Trust, was jailed for two years for stealing over £90,000 from the charity for her own luxury lifestyle.
The trust faced possible closure and a need to raise £600,000 to stay in operation.
She has now been ordered to pay back just £1 within a week following a court order.
Biden administration supports new legislation to ban TikTok
The White House is backing newly introduced legislation in Congress that would give the administration the power to ban TikTok and other foreign technologies that could pose national security threats.
The bill has bipartisan support and would allow the Commerce Department to restrict or banish apps owned by Chinese companies like ByteDance.
The legislation comes as lawmakers express concerns about the collection and potential misuse of data by these apps, particularly among younger users.
The move also signals a continuation of the previous administration's stance on TikTok.
TikTok to allow creators to charge for access to exclusive content
TikTok has launched a new feature called "Series," allowing eligible content creators to put collections of up to 80 videos behind a paywall for access.
Each video clip can be up to 20 minutes long.
Creators can charge their audiences with a rate of $1 to $190, and fans can buy access from direct in-video links or the creator's profile page.
The feature is aimed at offering a new monetization channel for TikTok users.
US Senators to Unveil Legislation to Tackle Security Risks Posed by Chinese-Owned Apps
Two US senators, Mark Warner and John Thune, are set to unveil legislation granting new powers to the Biden administration to ban apps that could pose security risks, such as Chinese-owned video app, TikTok.
The White House is currently working alongside Congress, although they have not yet stated if they would endorse the legislation.
The Biden administration is also considering seeking more legal powers from Congress to deal with technology that could breach sensitive data to China.
NSPCC and other organisations call on TikTok to improve content moderation policies for suicide and eating disorder content
Campaign groups, including the NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation, have written a letter to TikTok's head of safety urging the social media company to improve their content moderation policies around suicide and eating disorders.
These groups argue that the app's recommendation algorithm contributes to the spread of self-harm and eating disorder content to teenagers expressing interest in these topics.
While TikTok has claimed to have removed harmful content that violates its policies, the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) has reported that 53 of the 56 coded eating disorder hashtags flagged in CCDH's research are still on the app.
The CCDH has also estimated that these hashtags have accumulated an additional 1.6 billion views since November 2020.