President Joe Biden will not implement a TikTok ban scheduled to take effect just before he leaves office, according to a U.S. official. Instead, the app's future now depends on President-elect Donald Trump. Congress passed a law last year, signed by Biden, requiring TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations by Jan. 19, a day before the presidential inauguration. However, the outgoing administration has decided to defer enforcing the law and any associated ban to Trump. Anonymously discussing the Biden administration’s perspective, the official revealed that Trump, who once advocated banning TikTok, has since promised to keep it operational in the U.S. However, his transition team has not clarified their approach to achieving this. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration, potentially signaling the incoming administration’s intent to prevent the app’s shutdown. National security adviser-designate Mike Waltz told Fox & Friends on Thursday that the federal law permits an extension of the divestment deadline if viable negotiations are underway. The debate over TikTok has bridged party lines. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated he discussed the issue with Biden, advocating for more time to secure an American buyer and protect the livelihoods of influencers reliant on the platform. However, Republican Senator Tom Cotton blocked a legislative effort to extend the deadline, arguing TikTok has had sufficient time to comply. “Tiktok is a Chinese Communist spyware app that exploits children, harvests data, and spreads propaganda,” Cotton remarked. Meanwhile, TikTok’s legal challenge to the divestment law was recently heard by the Supreme Court, where justices appeared inclined to uphold the statute. The law cites national security concerns as grounds for ByteDance’s divestiture or TikTok’s ban in the U.S. “If the court upholds the law, President Trump is clear: TikTok is a valuable platform, but he will prioritize protecting Americans’ data,” Waltz said. He suggested the administration would work toward a deal to keep the app functional. In another development, Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for attorney general, avoided committing to upholding a TikTok ban during her Senate hearing. Trump has shifted his stance on TikTok since his initial attempts to ban it during his first term, now praising its role in engaging younger voters during his campaign. He has even credited the platform for boosting his appeal to younger demographics, particularly male voters, and pledged to safeguard TikTok during his campaign.        

TikTok, the hugely popular video-sharing platform, faces a potential ban on January 19 due to a federal law that could force it to sever ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or cease its operations in the U.S, reports AP. Several parties have shown interest in acquiring TikTok, but ByteDance has consistently stated it has no intention of selling. Experts have also highlighted that the Chinese government is unlikely to approve a sale that includes TikTok’s prized algorithm. However, until the deadline passes or the Supreme Court intervenes, the possibility of a sale remains open. Here’s a breakdown: What is TikTok’s valuation? According to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, TikTok’s value is “well over $100 billion” with its algorithm, and in an ideal scenario, it could be worth up to $200 billion. Without the algorithm, Ives estimates its value to be between $40 billion and $50 billion, adding that he doesn’t believe ByteDance or Beijing would agree to sell TikTok without its algorithm. Lawyers for TikTok and ByteDance have argued that it’s not possible to divest the platform in both commercial and technological terms. They also contend that selling TikTok without its algorithm would effectively isolate the U.S. version of the app, severing it from the global content ecosystem. U.S. officials have raised concerns that the Chinese government could manipulate the platform’s proprietary algorithm, using it to influence content in ways that would be difficult to detect. Who is seriously interested in buying TikTok? Billionaire real estate mogul Frank McCourt and his internet advocacy group have recently proposed purchasing TikTok from ByteDance. Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary has also joined the bid, though details about the proposal remain undisclosed. McCourt, the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has said that he would aim to restructure TikTok and allow users more control over their digital identities and data. He envisions moving the platform to an open-source protocol to ensure greater transparency. Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has also taken steps to acquire TikTok, stating shortly after the ban was passed that he was assembling an investor group for the purchase. He provided no specifics about the group's composition or TikTok’s valuation. In addition, figures like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), and former Blizzard-Activision CEO Bobby Kotick have been mentioned as potential buyers. However, it’s unclear whether they are seriously pursuing a deal. Could Trump Intervene? President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20, has asked the court to pause the law in order to negotiate a “political resolution” during his second term. If the Supreme Court grants this request, the potential ban on TikTok would be delayed. The Court is expected to make a decision soon. The Trump transition team has not provided specific details about how he plans to act on his campaign promise to "save TikTok." However, spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated in November that Trump intends to fulfill that commitment. Once Trump is in office, the Justice Department will be responsible for enforcing the law and penalising any potential violators. On Wednesday, Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, Pam Bondi, declined to answer a question on whether she would uphold a TikTok ban during her Senate hearing.

Trump’s pick for national security adviser, Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, said in an interview on Wednesday that the president-elect is exploring options to “preserve” TikTok. Waltz made the comment when Fox News anchor Bret Baier asked him about a report from The Washington Post that said Trump was considering an executive order to suspend enforcement of a federal law that could ban the popular platform nationwide by Sunday. Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a legal challenge to the statute brought by TikTok, its China-based parent company ByteDance, and users of the app. The Justices seemed likely to uphold the law, which requires ByteDance to divest TikTok on national security grounds or face a ban in one of its biggest markets. “If the Supreme Court comes out with a ruling in favor of the law, President Trump has been very clear: Number one, TikTok is a great platform that many Americans use and has been great for his campaign and getting his message out. But number two, he’s going to protect their data,” Waltz said. US TikTok users flock to Chinese app Xiaohongshu as TikTok ban looming “He’s a deal maker. I don’t want to get ahead of our executive orders, but we’re going to create this space to put that deal in place," he added. Separately on Wednesday, Pam Bondi, Trump’s pick for attorney general, dodged a question during a Senate hearing on whether she’d uphold a TikTok ban. Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He pledged to “save TikTok” during the campaign and has credited the platform with helping him win more youth votes.

In a crucial case for the social media era, free speech and national security collide at the Supreme Court on Friday, as arguments unfold over the fate of TikTok, a hugely popular platform used by nearly half of Americans for entertainment and information, report AP. TikTok has announced plans to shut down in the U.S. by January 19 unless the Supreme Court either overturns or delays the implementation of a law aimed at forcing the sale of the platform by its Chinese parent company. ByteDance’s Lemon8 gains popularity amid TikTok ban threat With a tight deadline, the justices are also considering a request from President-elect Donald Trump, who has reversed his previous support for a ban, asking for time to reach a “political resolution” to avoid a ruling. It is uncertain whether the court will take the views of the Republican president-elect, a rare attempt to influence a case, into account. TikTok, along with its parent company ByteDance, and content creators and users, argue that the law is a severe violation of the Constitution’s free speech protections. Small businesses brace themselves for potentially disruptive TikTok ban “Rarely, if ever, has the court dealt with a free-speech case that impacts so many people,” the lawyers for the users and creators stated. Many creators are anxiously awaiting a ruling that could threaten their livelihoods and are considering other platforms. This case is another instance of the court being asked to rule on a medium with which the justices have admitted little familiarity, although they frequently weigh in on significant speech restriction issues. The Biden administration, defending the law signed by President Joe Biden in April after it was approved by bipartisan majorities in Congress, asserts that “no one can seriously dispute that (China’s) control of TikTok through ByteDance represents a grave threat to national security.” Officials argue that Chinese authorities could compel ByteDance to hand over data on U.S. TikTok users or manipulate the platform to control information. However, the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok told the justices, adding that limitations on speech should not be justified by fears based on future potential risks. Venezuela's top court issues a $10 million fine for TikTok over allegedly deadly video challenges In December, a panel of three appellate judges, two appointed by Republicans and one by a Democrat, unanimously upheld the law and rejected the free speech claims under the First Amendment. Adding to the urgency, the court is hearing arguments just nine days before the law’s scheduled implementation and 10 days before the new administration takes office. In an unusual move, Trump’s lawyers have asked the court to temporarily block the TikTok ban while waiting for a political resolution rather than making a definitive decision. “President Trump alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government — concerns which President Trump himself has acknowledged,” stated D. John Sauer, Trump’s nominee for top Supreme Court lawyer. Trump has not taken a stance on the case’s merits, with his campaign using TikTok to connect with younger voters, especially males, and holding a meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in December. He has 14.7 million followers on the app. The justices have allotted two hours for arguments, though the session is expected to run longer. Three experienced Supreme Court lawyers will present arguments: Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar will defend the law for the Biden administration, former Trump Solicitor General Noel Francisco will represent TikTok and ByteDance, and Stanford Law professor Jeffrey Fisher will argue for the content creators and users in his 50th Supreme Court case. Should the law be enacted, Trump’s Justice Department would be tasked with its enforcement. Lawyers for TikTok and ByteDance have argued that the new administration might attempt to lessen the law’s most severe consequences. However, they also contend that a one-month shutdown would result in TikTok losing a third of its U.S. users and significant advertising revenue. As it deliberates, the court must determine the level of scrutiny to apply to the law. Under strict scrutiny, laws typically fail. However, two appellate judges who upheld the law stated it could be one of the rare exceptions that would survive such a review. TikTok, its users, and many supporters are urging the court to apply strict scrutiny to strike down the law. The Democratic administration and some backers of the law argue that restrictions on foreign ownership of media and other sectors of the economy justify efforts to counter Chinese influence, citing the TikTok ban as part of that strategy. A decision is expected soon.

With a potential TikTok ban looming in the US, content creators are increasingly promoting its sister app, Lemon8. The app, a blend of TikTok’s short-form videos and the visual appeal of Instagram and Pinterest, is owned by ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, Douyin, and other apps like CapCut and Hypic.  Lemon8 launched in the US in 2023 after debuting in Asian markets but struggled to gain traction compared to TikTok, which boasts over 170 million US users. However, in the past month, downloads of Lemon8 have surged, making it a top-ranking free app on Apple’s app store. This rise in popularity coincides with a pending Supreme Court decision on a federal law that would require TikTok to sever ties with ByteDance or face a US ban.  TikTok has stated it will shut down its US operations by January 19 if the government wins its case. The ban could also impact other ByteDance-owned apps, including Lemon8, as the law targets any apps operated by the company or its subsidiaries.  Italy fines OpenAI for ChatGPT data privacy violations Content creators, some of whom had previously partnered with Lemon8 for promotions, have recently championed the app as a potential alternative to TikTok. Many influencers are posting paid promotions tagged #lemon8partner, reflecting a corporate push to attract users. However, analysts warn that creators may not fully understand the law’s implications for ByteDance’s other apps, including Lemon8 and CapCut.  Jasmine Enberg, an analyst at Emarketer, suggested ByteDance may be hoping Lemon8 avoids regulatory scrutiny as lawmakers concentrate on TikTok. ByteDance did not comment on the situation.  In November, TikTok announced a feature allowing creators to access Lemon8 with their TikTok accounts, facilitating content sharing across platforms. Like TikTok, Lemon8 features “following” and “For You” feeds, alongside categorized posts in areas such as wellness, relationships, and skincare.  While ByteDance has not disclosed user numbers, research from SimilarWeb indicates Lemon8 has about 1 million daily active users in the US Data from Sensor Tower shows the app had 12.5 million global monthly active users as of December, with US downloads accounting for 70% of the month’s total. Albanian prime minister says TikTok ban was not a 'rushed reaction to a single incident' Downloads spiked on December 19, the day after the Supreme Court announced it would review the TikTok ban law.  Lawmakers have expressed concerns over potential misuse of US user data by Chinese authorities, fueling bipartisan support for the legislation.

President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by January 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D John Sauer, Trump’s choice for solicitor general. The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. He has been holding meetings with foreign leaders and business officials at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida while he assembles his administration, including a meeting last week with TikTok CEO Shou Chew. Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. Japan Airlines hit by a cyberattack, delaying flights during the year-end holiday season The filings Friday come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for January 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The law was was signed by President Joe Biden in April after it passed Congress with broad bipartisan support. TikTok and ByteDance filed a legal challenge afterwards. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute, leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on “alleged ‘risks’ that China could exercise control” over TikTok’s US platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s US patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. Meta set to introduce Ray-Ban smart glasses in 2025 But the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok’s legal filing said, adding that the US fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said because TikTok “is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its propriety engine developed and maintained in China,” its corporate structure carries with it risk.

Albania’s Prime Minister clarified Sunday that the recently announced TikTok ban was not a hasty response to a single event but rather a well-considered measure. On Saturday, Prime Minister Edi Rama declared that the government would block TikTok for one year, citing concerns over its role in promoting violence and bullying, particularly among minors. Authorities have engaged in 1,300 discussions with educators and parents since a tragic incident in November, where a teenager was fatally stabbed by another teen following an argument that began on social media. Reports indicate that 90% of participants supported the ban. Italy fines OpenAI for ChatGPT data privacy violations “The one-year TikTok ban is not a knee-jerk reaction but a thoughtful decision reached through consultations with parents in schools nationwide,” Rama stated. TikTok has since requested “urgent clarification” from the Albanian authorities regarding the teenager’s stabbing. The company maintained that neither the victim nor the perpetrator had TikTok accounts and asserted that videos linked to the incident had circulated on another platform. Rama countered that dismissing TikTok’s connection to the tragedy overlooks the broader risks posed by the platform’s algorithms. “Albania may lack the leverage to compel TikTok to safeguard children, but we will not hesitate to shield our youth from its harmful effects,” he said. Rama accused the app of perpetuating hate speech, violence, and bullying. Meta to build $10 billion AI data center in Louisiana as Elon Musk expands his Tennessee AI facility Studies indicate that children constitute the majority of TikTok users in Albania, prompting rising parental concerns about reports of students bringing weapons to schools, allegedly influenced by TikTok content. While many Albanian youths oppose the ban, viewing TikTok as a source of entertainment and self-expression, parents back the decision. “We either ensure TikTok protects Albanian children, or we protect them from TikTok,” Rama emphasized.

TikTok is edging closer to a possible ban in the United States, raising questions about the platform’s future, reports AP. On Friday, a federal appeals court upheld a law requiring TikTok to sever ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban by mid-January. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously ruled that the law was constitutional, rejecting claims from TikTok and ByteDance that it violated their rights and those of U.S. users. TikTok defends handling of Romania election content in grilling by EU lawmakers The government argues that TikTok poses national security risks due to ByteDance’s potential susceptibility to Chinese government influence. Although no public evidence of misuse has been provided, officials remain concerned about possible data access or information manipulation. The law allows ByteDance to divest its stakes in TikTok. If that fails and TikTok is banned, it could significantly disrupt the lives of creators dependent on the platform for income and the broader user base who use it for entertainment and connection. Trump promised to 'save TikTok'. What happens next is less clear Key points from the ruling: The appeals court, in an opinion by Judge Douglas Ginsburg, deemed the law carefully tailored to address foreign adversary control. It dismissed claims that the law constituted an unconstitutional bill of attainder, violated the Fifth Amendment, or infringed on the First Amendment since the government isn’t attempting to suppress or mandate content on TikTok. Next steps: TikTok and ByteDance plan to appeal to the Supreme Court. While the Court’s decision to take the case remains uncertain, the companies aim to secure an emergency stay to block the January 19 deadline. Legal experts anticipate prolonged proceedings. Some creators remain optimistic. TikTok supporter Tiffany Cianci believes the platform has stronger chances at the Supreme Court, viewing the ruling as typical deference to the executive branch at lower court levels. The Trump factor: President-elect Donald Trump, who initially sought to ban TikTok during his first term, now opposes such a move. His Justice Department would be tasked with enforcing or potentially re-evaluating the law after his inauguration. Trump could seek alternative solutions, including facilitating an American acquisition of TikTok or urging Congress to repeal the law. However, any action would require bipartisan cooperation, which remains uncertain. Prospective buyers: While ByteDance has ruled out selling TikTok, potential buyers have shown interest despite challenges posed by Chinese export controls on the platform’s proprietary algorithm. Without the algorithm, a sale would leave the buyer with only a diluted version of the app. Notable figures like Steven Mnuchin and Frank McCourt have expressed interest, with McCourt’s initiative reportedly gathering informal commitments exceeding $20 billion in capital. As TikTok navigates its uncertain path, the stakes are high for creators, users, and stakeholders awaiting the Supreme Court’s next move.

Sexual predators. Addictive features. Suicide and eating disorders. Unrealistic beauty standards. Bullying. These are just some of the issues young people are dealing with on social media — and children's advocates and lawmakers say companies are not doing enough to protect them. On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify at a time when lawmakers and parents are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people’s lives. The hearing began with recorded testimony from kids and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media. Throughout the hourslong event, parents who lost children to suicide silently held up pictures of their dead kids. "They’re responsible for many of the dangers our children face online,” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks. “Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.” Meta's initial decisions to remove 2 videos of Israel-Hamas war is reversed by Oversight Board In a heated question and answer session with Mark Zuckerberg, Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley asked the Meta CEO if he has personally compensated any of the victims and their families for what they have been through. “I don't think so,” Zuckerberg replied. “There's families of victims here,” Hawley said. “Would you like to apologize to them?” Zuckerberg stood, turned away from his microphone and the senators, and directly addressed the parents in the gallery. “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said, adding that Meta continues to invest and work on “industrywide efforts” to protect children. But time and time again, children’s advocates and parents have stressed that none of the companies are doing enough. One of the parents who attended the hearing was Neveen Radwan, whose teenage daughter got sucked in to a “black hole of dangerous content” on TikTok and Instagram after she started looking at videos on healthy eating and exercise at the onset of the COVID lockdowns. She developed anorexia within a few months and nearly died, Radwan recalled. “Nothing that was said today was different than what we expected,” Radwan said. “It was a lot of promises and a lot of, quite honestly, a lot of talk without them really saying anything. The apology that he made, while it was appreciated, it was a little bit too little, too late, of course.” But Radwan, whose daughter is now 19 and in college, said she felt a “significant shift” in the energy as she sat through the hearing, listening to the senators grill the social media CEOs in tense exchanges. “The energy in the room was, very, very palpable. Just by our presence there, I think it was very noticeable how our presence was affecting the senators,” she said. Hawley continued to press Zuckerberg, asking if he'd take personal responsibility for the harms his company has caused. Zuckerberg stayed on message and repeated that Meta's job is to “build industry-leading tools” and empower parents. “To make money,” Hawley cut in. Israeli defense minister says war on Hamas will last months as US envoy discusses timetable South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, echoed Durbin's sentiments and said he's prepared to work with Democrats to solve the issue. “After years of working on this issue with you and others, I’ve come to conclude the following: Social media companies as they’re currently designed and operate are dangerous products," Graham said. The executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they’ve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors. Snapchat broke ranks ahead of the hearing and is backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms that recommend harmful content to minors. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel reiterated the company’s support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said the company is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. CEO Linda Yaccarino said X, formerly Twitter, doesn’t cater to children. “We do not have a line of business dedicated to children,” Yaccarino said. She said the company will also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that makes it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies. Yet child health advocates say social media companies have failed repeatedly to protect minors. Profits should not be the primary concern when companies are faced with safety and privacy decisions, said Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media. “These companies have had opportunities to do this before they failed to do that. So independent regulation needs to step in.” Republican and Democratic senators came together in a rare show of agreement throughout the hearing, though it’s not yet clear if this will be enough to pass legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act, proposed in 2022 by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. “There is pretty clearly a bipartisan consensus that the status quo isn’t working," said New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, a Democrat. “When it comes to how these companies have failed to prioritize the safety of children, there’s clearly a sense of frustration on both sides of the aisle.” Meta is being sued by dozens of states that say it deliberately designs features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. New Mexico filed a separate lawsuit saying the company has failed to protect them from online predators. New internal emails between Meta executives released by Blumenthal’s office show Nick Clegg, the company's president of global affairs, and others asking Zuckerberg to hire more people to strengthen "wellbeing across the company” as concerns grew about effects on youth mental health. “From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the U.S., U.K., E.U. and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young people’s mental health,” Clegg wrote in an August 2021 email. The emails released by Blumenthal’s office don’t appear to include a response, if there was any, from Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who later testified before the Senate. Clegg followed up on the August email in November with a scaled-down proposal but it does not appear that anything was approved. “I’ve spoken to many of the parents at the hearing. The harm their children experienced, all that loss of innocent life, is eminently preventable. When Mark says ‘Our job is building the best tools we can,’ that is just not true,” said Arturo Béjar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently testified before Congress about child safety on Meta’s platforms. “They know how much harm teens are experiencing, yet they won’t commit to reducing it, and most importantly to be transparent about it. They have the infrastructure to do it, the research, the people, it is a matter of prioritization.” Béjar said the emails and Zuckerberg's testimony show that Meta and its CEO “do not care about the harm teens experience” on their platforms. “Nick Clegg writes about profound gaps with addiction, self-harm, bullying and harassment to Mark. Mark did not respond, and those gaps are unaddressed today. Clegg asked for 84 engineers of 30,000,” Béjar said. “Children are not his priority.” Read more: Facebook parent Meta hit with record fine for transferring European user data to US

Google, Facebook, TikTok and other Big Tech companies operating in Europe must comply with one of the most far-reaching efforts to clean up what people see online. The European Union's groundbreaking new digital rules took effect Friday for the biggest platforms. The Digital Services Act is part of a suite of tech-focused regulations crafted by the 27-nation bloc — long a global leader in cracking down on tech giants. Also read : Technology should be smart, people-friendly, cost-effective: Speakers The DSA is designed to keep users safe online and stop the spread of harmful content that's either illegal or violates a platform's terms of service, such as promotion of genocide or anorexia. It also looks to protect Europeans' fundamental rights like privacy and free speech. Some online platforms, which could face billions in fines if they don't comply, already have made changes. Also read : Scientific Advisory Board for Independent Advice on Breakthroughs in Science and Technology Here's a look at what has changed: WHICH PLATFORMS ARE AFFECTED? So far, 19. They include eight social media platforms: Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Snapchat. There are five online marketplaces: Amazon, Booking.com, China's Alibaba AliExpress and Germany's Zalando. Mobile app stores Google Play and Apple's App Store are subject, as are Google's Search and Microsoft's Bing search engine. Also read : Walton to hold first-ever mega 'International Advanced Components and Technology Expo' in August Google Maps and Wikipedia round out the list. WHAT ABOUT OTHER ONLINE COMPANIES? The EU's list is based on numbers submitted by the platforms. Those with 45 million or more users — or 10% of the EU's population — face the DSA's highest level of regulation. Brussels insiders, however, have pointed to some notable omissions, like eBay, Airbnb, Netflix and even PornHub. The list isn't definitive, and it's possible other platforms may be added later on. Any business providing digital services to Europeans will eventually have to comply with the DSA. They will face fewer obligations than the biggest platforms, however, and have another six months before they must fall in line. WHAT'S CHANGING? Platforms have rolled out new ways for European users to flag illegal online content and dodgy products, which companies will be obligated to take down quickly and objectively. The DSA "will have a significant impact on the experiences Europeans have when they open their phones or fire up their laptops," Nick Clegg, Meta's president for global affairs, said in a blog post. Facebook and Instagram's existing tools to report content will be easier to access. Amazon opened a new channel for reporting suspect goods. TikTok gave users an extra option for flagging videos, such as for hate speech and harassment, or frauds and scams, which will be reviewed by an additional team of experts, according to the app from Chinese parent company ByteDance. Google is offering more "visibility" into content moderation decisions and different ways for users to contact the company. It didn't offer specifics. Under the DSA, Google and other platforms have to provide more information behind why posts are taken down. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat also are giving people the option to turn off automated systems that recommend videos and posts based on their profiles. Such systems have been blamed for leading social media users to increasingly extreme posts. The DSA also prohibits targeting vulnerable categories of people, including children, with ads. Platforms like Snapchat and TikTok will stop allowing teen users to be targeted by ads based on their online activities. Google will provide more information about targeted ads shown to people in the EU and give researchers more access to data on how its products work. IS THERE PUSHBACK? Zalando, a German online fashion retailer, has filed a legal challenge over its inclusion on the DSA's list of the largest online platforms, arguing that it's being treated unfairly. Nevertheless, Zalando is launching content flagging systems for its website even though there's little risk of illegal material showing up among its highly curated collection of clothes, bags and shoes. The company has supported the DSA, said Aurelie Caulier, Zalando's head of public affairs for the EU. "It will bring loads of positive changes" for consumers, she said. But "generally, Zalando doesn't have systemic risk (that other platforms pose). So that's why we don't think we fit in that category." Amazon has filed a similar case with a top EU court. WHAT IF COMPANIES DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES? Officials have warned tech companies that violations could bring fines worth up to 6% of their global revenue — which could amount to billions — or even a ban from the EU. "The real test begins now," said European Commissioner Thierry Breton, who oversees digital policy. He vowed to "thoroughly enforce the DSA and fully use our new powers to investigate and sanction platforms where warranted." But don't expect penalties to come right away for individual breaches, such as failing to take down a specific video promoting hate speech. Instead, the DSA is more about whether tech companies have the right processes in place to reduce the harm that their algorithm-based recommendation systems can inflict on users. Essentially, they'll have to let the European Commission, the EU's executive arm and top digital enforcer, look under the hood to see how their algorithms work. EU officials "are concerned with user behavior on the one hand, like bullying and spreading illegal content, but they're also concerned about the way that platforms work and how they contribute to the negative effects," said Sally Broughton Micova, an associate professor at the University of East Anglia. That includes looking at how the platforms work with digital advertising systems, which could be used to profile users for harmful material like disinformation, or how their livestreaming systems function, which could be used to instantly spread terrorist content, said Broughton Micova, who's also academic co-director at the Centre on Regulation in Europe, a Brussels-based think tank. Big platforms have to identify and assess potential systemic risks and whether they're doing enough to reduce them. These assessments are due by the end of August and then they will be independently audited. The audits are expected to be the main tool to verify compliance — though the EU's plan has faced criticism for lacking details that leave it unclear how the process will work. WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD? Europe's changes could have global impact. Wikipedia is tweaking some policies and modifying its terms of use to provide more information on "problematic users and content." Those alterations won't be limited to Europe and "will be implemented globally," said the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation, which hosts the community-powered encyclopedia. "The rules and processes that govern Wikimedia projects worldwide, including any changes in response to the DSA, are as universal as possible," it said in a statement. Snapchat said its new reporting and appeal process for flagging illegal content or accounts that break its rules will be rolled out first in the EU and then globally in the coming months. It's going to be hard for tech companies to limit DSA-related changes, said Broughton Micova, adding that digital ad networks aren't isolated to Europe and that social media influencers can have global reach. The regulations are "dealing with multichannel networks that operate globally. So there is going to be a ripple effect once you have kind of mitigations that get taken into place," she said.