TikTok

The social network has inaugurated its first European data center in Ireland to allay fears of potential privacy breaches and surveillance from China by moving European users’ data to the Old Continent.

Ireland’s big tech regulator claims the platform set the accounts of users aged 13 to 17 to public, among other breaches.

TikTok is implementing new changes for EU users, in accordance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), which imposes new operating conditions for digital platforms to better protect user privacy.

The new regulations under the EU’s Digital Markets Act will soon apply to tech businesses that create the operating systems, social networks, and search engines used by millions of people.

The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) has sided with Big Tech, following campaigns to force tech giants to invest in 5G infrastructure.

The nation’s first legislation expressly banning TikTok was signed on Wednesday by the governor of Montana, opening the door for a judicial battle that may determine whether or not a proposed federal ban would be implemented countrywide.

GSMA and ETNO have prepared their demands as part of feedback to the European Commission which launched a consultation into the issue in February. The deadline for responses is Friday, May 19th.

France, the Netherlands and Norway have joined a growing list of countries to issue orders banning the use of TikTok on government devices, amid rising concerns over the app’s privacy and security.

“As consumers’ viewing behaviors are shifting to short-form video, we are shifting our focus to Reels on Facebook and Instagram,” Facebook explains. Live shopping will still be available on Instagram.

The smartphone has been the most important gadget for years, and mobile phones had long ago evolved from a basic means of communication into multifunctional devices. As the number of features and applications it provides to its users grows, so does the number of minutes we spend on our smartphones.