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EU probes TikTok over alleged failure to protect minors

Published

3 months ago

February 19, 2024

EU probes TikTok over alleged failure to protect minors

The European Commission has opened formal proceedings to assess whether TikTok may have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA) in areas linked to the protection of minors, among others.

The Bytedance-owned company is also being investigated on issues concerning advertising transparency, data access for researchers, as well as the risk management of addictive design and harmful content.

The Commission said the investigation is based on the preliminary investigation conducted so far, including an analysis of the risk assessment report sent by TikTok in September 2023, as well as TikTok’s replies to the Commission’s formal Requests for Information on illegal content, protection of minors, and data access.

Under the EU’s DSA, which came into force this month, penalties for confirmed breaches can reach up to 6% of global annual turnover.

More insights

Providing details of the probe, the European Commission in a statement released on Monday, said the proceedings will focus on:

“The compliance with the DSA obligations related to the assessment and mitigation of systemic risks, in terms of actual or foreseeable negative effects stemming from the design of TikTok’s system, including algorithmic systems, that may stimulate behavioural addictions and/ or create so-called ‘rabbit hole effects.

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“Such assessment is required to counter potential risks for the exercise of the fundamental right to the person’s physical and mental well-being, the respect of the rights of the child as well as its impact on radicalization processes. Furthermore, the mitigation measures in place in this respect, notably age verification tools used by TikTok to prevent access by minors to inappropriate content, may not be reasonable, proportionate and effective;
“The compliance with DSA obligations to put in place appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors, particularly with regard to default privacy settings for minors as part of the design and functioning of their recommender systems;
“The compliance with DSA obligations to provide a searchable and reliable repository for advertisements presented on TikTok;
“The measures taken by TikTok to increase the transparency of its platform. The investigation concerns suspected shortcomings in giving researchers access to TikTok’s publicly accessible data as mandated by Article 40 of the DSA.”

Background

TikTok was designated as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) on 25 April 2023 under the EU’s Digital Services Act, following its declaration of having 135.9 million monthly active users in the EU. As a VLOP, four months from its designation, TikTok had to start complying with a series of obligations set out in the DSA.

Other companies affected by the DSA and listed as VLOP include Facebook, X (Twitter), Alibaba’s AliExpress, Amazon Marketplace, Apple AppStore, Booking.com, Google Play, Google Maps, Google Shopping, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, Wikipedia, YouTube, Zalando, Bing, and Google Search.

EU probes TikTok over alleged failure to protect minors

News

Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life

Published

10 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu

Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has expressed concern over threats to his life by individuals he described as anti-Igbo. He revealed that there have been plans to either kill him or burn his house due to his leadership of Ndigbo.

Addressing a press conference in Enugu, Iwuanyanwu highlighted the dangers he faced, mentioning the death of his predecessor, Prof George Obiozor, and an attempt on another ex-leader’s life. He recounted receiving information about people hired to attack him but assured that he remained undeterred in his commitment to serving his people.

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Iwuanyanwu lamented being confronted by such threats despite his efforts to serve his people, citing his extensive career and scholarship schemes that benefited thousands of youths. He recalled the fate of late Prof. Joe Irukwu, who faced similar accusations of working against the interest of Igboland.

Despite the challenges, Iwuanyanwu reaffirmed his determination to serve Ndigbo and vowed not to yield to intimidation.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life

News

Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

Published

11 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Goodboy Sokari

Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

A new speaker has emerged in Rivers State Wednesday May 8, 2024, to signal the much-awaited showdown in state’s deteriorating political crisis which seems to be here.

Already, hidden cards or fists are appearing every hour to show that both the Nyesom Wike camp and the Governor Siminalayi Fubara camp have been preparing for it.

The Wike camp through the Rivers State caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Tony Okocha yesterday gave go-ahead for impeachment action against the governor. The one they one the 27 defected lawmakers loyal to Wike initiated on October 30, 2023, failed when Gov Fubara fought back until a temporary ceasefire was achieved in Aso Rock with an 8-point agreement signed by both parties but largely observed in breach.

Now, it seems both camps have rearmed and may be ready for the final showdown that may make Rivers State tense in the coming days, to say the least.

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The APC has directed that impeachment begin immediately; the next day, the Fubara camp announced their own Speaker, Victor Oko Jumbo from Bonny; same day, hints emerge that screening of LGA caretaker committee members may be going on.

On the other hand, the local councils have staged protests saying their monthly allocations have been withheld. Pressure is thus mounting from that angle covering the 23 local council areas.

The purported screening may lead to appointment of caretaker committees of the 23 LGAs in the state who would get the monthly allocations and hit the ground running.

This action would provoke what the Wike-backed APC group said they would resist. They may begin their own action in the form of impeachment proceedings which the Fubara camp (Rivers State government) said they would resist.

These acts of resistance may plunge the state into violence and make it ungovernable. At that point, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has remained silent since the peace agreement, may unveil the sanctions he had threatened would descend on any person who breached the agreement. Each camp points to the other as the one breaching the agreements. Each clings to Tinubu as the favourite.

The battle seems timed to ensure that the one year anniversary is hindered.

Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

News

Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules

Published

11 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen

Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, intervened on Wednesday to halt a motion calling for the suspension of the controversial cybersecurity levy, which has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians.

Since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mandated all banks to deduct 0.5% of the value of electronic transactions from customers, Nigerians from various sectors have vehemently opposed the levy, labelling it an additional financial burden.

During Wednesday’s plenary session, Manu Soro, a lawmaker from Bauchi State, presented the motion, citing concerns about the timing of the levy’s introduction amidst Nigeria’s prevailing economic challenges.

Soro argued that imposing new taxes or increasing existing ones amid the current economic difficulties exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies and currency depreciation would only add to citizens’ financial woes.

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He called on the House to urge the CBN to retract the circular on the cybersecurity levy and halt its implementation immediately. Additionally, he urged the Minister of Finance to refrain from introducing new taxes or raising existing rates until the economic situation improves significantly.

However, Speaker Abbas advised Soro to temporarily withdraw the motion to allow the House leadership to deliberate on the best course of action to address the issue.

In a related development, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) threatened to shut down the economy over the plan to implement the cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions. TUC’s president, Mr. Festus Osifo, criticized the levy as illogical, particularly given the current economic challenges faced by Nigerians. He warned that its implementation could worsen poverty and deepen the economic crisis in the country.