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Topic: bytedance

TikTok displayed a notification to some U.S. users on Friday, urging them to call their senators and ask them to vote no to a bill. News 

Contact Your Senators and Oppose TikTok Ban Threat in the US

Adarsh V.K

(Reuters) – TikTok showed an ad to some U.S. users on Friday urging them to call their senators and ask them to vote no on a bill that would ban the popular short-form video app unless it is sold from Chinese tech company ByteDance. . “Tell your senator how important TikTok is to you. Ask them to vote no on banning TikTok,” the ad said, allowing users to enter their zip code to find the senator’s phone number. “If the Senate votes now, the future of the creativity and communities…

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ByteDance needs to divest from TikTok to let the platform to be available in the US or it can be banned as per the new law passed. News 

US House Approves Bill Requiring ByteDance to Sell TikTok to Prevent Potential Ban

Febin Mathew

WASHINGTON: The US House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved legislation giving TikTok’s Chinese owner ByteDance about six months to sell the short video app’s US assets or face a ban, the biggest threat to the app since the Trump era. administration. The bill passed 352-65 with bipartisan support, but faces a more uncertain path in the Senate, where some advocate a different approach to regulating foreign-owned apps that pose security concerns. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate would review the legislation. The fate of TikTok, which is…

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Its Ireland data center is finally operational. News 

TikTok Begins Transferring European Users’ Data to Its First Regional Data Center

Jim Hendler, , ,

TikTok has begun transferring the data of its European users to its newly established data center in Ireland. The social media platform, which primarily focuses on videos, has confirmed that its Ireland data center is now operational, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing Project Clover. The initiative was introduced by TikTok in March, following the European Commission’s decision to prohibit its employees from using the app on work devices. Despite announcing plans for the data center in Ireland as early as 2020, TikTok faced delays and had initially anticipated…

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The company is reportedly concerned about users leaving to chat about its videos on competing platforms. News 

TikTok Looks to Social Features to Compete with Meta in Job Postings

Jim Hendler, , , ,

TikTok seems to be taking steps towards transforming its platform into a comprehensive social network. According to Axios, the company has recently advertised job openings that specifically target the development of social networking features and enhanced direct messaging. One of the job listings, titled “Product manager – TikTok social,” states that the company aims to establish significant social bonds among its users. Job postings are known to be related to the organization’s internal concerns about maintaining and increasing user engagement. “There are concerns within TikTok that users are sharing TikTok…

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Alphabet Inc.’s Google said Thursday that it’s making several changes to comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act. (Pexels) AI 

EU Investigates Google, Twitter, and Facebook as New Regulations Take Effect

Jim Hendler, , , , , , , , ,

Starting from Friday, Meta Platforms Inc., Google, and X (previously known as Twitter) will be required to comply with stringent content moderation regulations in the European Union. These regulations will be legally enforceable under a new law that governs social media platforms. Alphabet Inc’s Google said on Thursday it is making several changes to comply with EU digital services laws, including expanding access to online ad targeting data and disclosing more about its content monitoring practices on services such as Google Search. It also adds risk analysis to its largest…

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A class-action lawsuit takes aim at the TikTok owner's video-editing app CapCut. News 

ByteDance Accused of Illegally Obtaining Biometric Information

Nitin Misra, ,

ByteDance is being sued in a class-action lawsuit for allegedly collecting data from its 200 million active users without their consent through its CapCut video-editing app. The lawsuit, filed in Illinois, accuses CapCut of violating the state’s Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by gathering information such as face scans and voiceprints without adequately informing or obtaining explicit permission from users. The app also allegedly collects information about the user’s location, date of birth and gender, as well as their photos and videos. Most of this is said to be the…

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A study indicates that younger Americans are more accepting of the social network. News 

Non-TikTok Users Believe Platform Poses National Security Risk

Jim Hendler, , ,

The ongoing efforts to portray TikTok as a potential threat to national security seem to be having an impact, although it is not universally felt. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 59 percent of American adults view TikTok as a danger. However, this perception differs depending on whether individuals use the platform or not. Only nine percent of TikTok users consider it a significant threat, while 36 percent of non-users share the same concern. Overall, 42 percent of users perceive some level of risk associated with…

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The app can generate instrumentals from your hummed tunes. News 

ByteDance Launches Ripple Music App for Creators

Jim Hendler, , ,

ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, has launched a new app called Ripple that aims to simplify the process of composing and editing music for creators. Currently available only in the US and being tested in a closed beta environment, Ripple is designed to assist creators, particularly beginners and those who prefer simpler systems, in a similar way to portable smart digital audio workstations (DAWs). The app also aims to make it easier for creators to incorporate custom soundtracks into their short-form videos on TikTok and other platforms. Ripple…

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Members of Congress on TikTok defend app's reach to voters. (AFP) AI 

TikTok Explores ChatGPT-Style Bot Joining The AI Race

Febin Mathew, , ,

ByteDance Ltd. is currently experimenting with an AI-driven chatbot for its staff, as it competes with other Chinese internet giants such as Baidu Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. to develop a domestic alternative to ChatGPT. The TikTok owner has given the project the code name “Grace,” a ByteDance spokesperson said, without disclosing further details. Employees using the service are greeted by a pop-up message saying it’s based on several major language models, according to one of the testers, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss an internal project. The…

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The management is considering the possibility of separating from parent firm, China's ByteDance, to help address U.S. concerns about national security risks. News 

TikTok may split from ByteDance to head off US security concerns

Febin Mathew, ,

(Reuters) – Executives at short video app TikTok are considering a split from parent company China’s ByteDance to help address U.S. concerns about national security risks, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The waiver, which could lead to a sale or IPO, is considered a last resort and would only be taken if the company’s existing proposal with U.S. national security authorities is not approved, Bloomberg reported. TikTok is under a national security review by the US Committee on Foreign Investment, and agreed last year to…

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FILE PHOTO: A 3D printed TikTok logo is placed on a keyboard in front of the US flag in this illustration taken October 6, 2020. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / Illustration / File Photo (REUTERS) News 

TikTok sell-by date suspended as negotiations with the United States continue

Febin Mathew,

A deadline set by the Trump administration for the forced sale of TikTok’s U.S. assets comes and goes on Friday without a final deal, according to people familiar with the talks. Although the deadline has been extended several times, TikTok is not expected to receive a new one, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the decision is not yet public. TikTok is still in talks with the US government about a sale that addresses the administration’s national security concerns, but Friday’s deadline may expire while talks…

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The Trump administration granted ByteDance a 15-day extension of an assignment order that ordered the Chinese company to sell its TikTok video-sharing app by Thursday. (REUTERS) News 

TikTok employee agrees to drop charges against Trump administration

Febin Mathew, ,

A TikTok employee who sued the Trump administration over its ban on the video-sharing app has agreed to drop his case. Patrick S. Ryan submitted a dossier dated November 13, indicating that both parties are asking the court to dismiss the case with prejudice. No reason was given. TikTok owner Bytedance Ltd. this week won a 15-day extension to its deadline for selling US assets and the Commerce Department said it would not go ahead with a ban on use the app for US residents, in light of two court…

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TikTok owner ByteDance filed a petition on Tuesday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to challenge the Trump administration's divestment order. (AFP) News 

ByteDance obtains 15day extension on US order to sell TikTok

Nitin Misra,

The Trump administration granted ByteDance a 15-day extension of an assignment order that ordered the Chinese company to sell its TikTok video-sharing app by Thursday. TikTok first leaked the extension earlier in a court filing, saying it now has until November 27 to reach a deal. Under pressure from the US government, ByteDance is in talks for a deal with Walmart Inc and Oracle Corp to transfer TikTok’s US assets to a new entity. The Treasury Department said on Friday that the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States…

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