Browsing Tag

TikTok

29 posts

TikTok fined US$15.9 million in UK for flouting under-13 age limit

TikTok has been fined £12.7m (US$15.9m) by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office for violating its own rules by allowing up to 1.4 million children under 13 to use its social media platform without the consent of their parents or guardians. The platform’s terms of service do not permit children under 13 to set up accounts.

Australia bans TikTok on government devices

Australia will ban TikTok on government devices due to national security concerns, following advice from intelligence agencies. The decision makes Australia the last member of the Five Eyes alliance to pursue such a ban, joining allies the US, UK, Canada, and New Zealand, as well as France, the Netherlands, and the European Commission. Cybersecurity experts have warned that the app, which has over one billion users, could be used to collect data shared with the Chinese government. TikTok has dismissed the bans as “rooted in xenophobia” but acknowledged collecting user data to spy on journalists.

Swedish military bans TikTok on work phones

Sweden’s military has banned staff from using TikTok on work devices due to security concerns, citing the app’s handling of user information and the actions of owner company ByteDance. Similar decisions have been made by authorities in Western countries, including Norway and France, over fears of ties to the communist government in Beijing. TikTok has denied any control or access to its data by the Chinese government, but acknowledged in December that employees had used European user data to spy on journalists.

China says does not ask firms for foreign data as TikTok row grows

China denied asking companies to hand over overseas data amid mounting calls for a TikTok ban in the US. The app’s CEO faced questioning from US lawmakers over concerns about ties to China and dangers to teenagers. TikTok is facing an existential threat as it seeks to either split from its Chinese ownership or be banned in the US. The app has become a cultural powerhouse, with 150 million monthly users in the country. TikTok hopes to appease authorities with Project Texas, a plan to ring-fence US data into a US-run division, but lawmakers doubt its ability to address national security concerns.

People smugglers use TikTok to promote their services

People smugglers are using TikTok to advertise their services, posing a challenge to Mexican and US authorities fighting a regional migration crisis. Dozens of accounts were found offering to smuggle irregular migrants through the violence-wracked Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, among other regions. The advertising violates TikTok’s rules, which prohibit the “promotion and facilitation of criminal activities.” Mexican authorities have formed specialized cells to counter the threat posed by people smugglers on social media. More than 7,600 migrants have died or disappeared in transit in the Americas since 2014, according to the International Organization for Migration.

TikTok chief faces US Congress as lawmakers mull ban

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faced skeptical lawmakers in Washington over the company’s alleged ties to the Chinese government. The video-sharing app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is under pressure from Western countries to cut ties with China or face a ban. Chew, a 40-year-old Singaporean, assured lawmakers that ByteDance is not an agent of China and that TikTok has never shared US user data with the Chinese government. However, several pieces of legislation are already paving the way for a potential ban of the app.

TikTok users protest proposals for US ban at Congress

TikTok content creators protested against a potential ban on the app at the US Capitol, arguing that the platform is no more prone to data breaches than other apps. A group of around a dozen teenagers, teachers, and business owners rallied at Congress to draw attention to the benefits of TikTok on their lives and livelihoods.

New Zealand to ban TikTok from MPs’ devices: parliament

New Zealand is set to ban TikTok from all parliamentary devices due to security concerns, joining other Western nations such as Canada, Britain, and the United States. The ban will begin on 31 March and is based on the analysis of New Zealand’s own experts and consultations with colleagues across the government and internationally. TikTok has faced global action since India barred it in 2020, while the US accused it of spying for China.

TikTok facing ban on UK govt devices: media

TikTok faces an imminent ban on UK government phones due to security concerns; Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden is expected to address MPs later today. The move would follow the European Union and United States in banning the Chinese-owned video sharing app on official devices.

US tells ByteDance to sell TikTok or be banned: report

The US government has told China-based ByteDance to sell its shares in the blockbuster TikTok app or face a national ban, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.