legislation Archives

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

‘Loophole’ in law on messaging apps leaves children vulnerable to sexual abuse, says NSPCC

Nearly 39,000 child sex abuse image crimes were documented in the past year, with approximately 38,685 crimes recorded in England and Wales during the 2023/24 period, averaging over 100 incidents per day. Snapchat was identified as the most frequently mentioned app in these cases, accounting for 50% of incidents, followed by Instagram (11%), Facebook (7%), and WhatsApp (6%). The NSPCC and other organizations are advocating for stronger enforcement of the Online Safety Act, citing concerns about a loophole that allows direct messaging services to remove harmful content only if deemed "technically feasible." The NSPCC expressed the need for proactive measures from platforms to prevent becoming "safe havens" for abusers, particularly highlighting risks associated with end-to-end encryption. A 13-year-old victim shared her distressing experience on Snapchat, where she was threatened after sending nude pictures to a stranger. NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood called for immediate government action, criticizing separate regulations for private messaging services that allow tech companies to evade responsibility. The Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, mandates social media companies to mitigate illegal and harmful content, but protective measures are still being implemented. Ofcom stated that most services should be capable of removing harmful content, while a government spokesperson reiterated the commitment to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse and to implement the Online Safety Act effectively.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

TikTok is back in US app stores for Apple and Android

TikTok has returned to the app stores of both Apple and Android in the United States after being removed due to a divest-or-ban law enacted by former President Joe Biden, which raised national security concerns about its parent company, ByteDance. The app was inaccessible since late January, despite its service remaining operational. A Supreme Court ruling on January 17 upheld the ban, leading to TikTok's reinstatement by Apple and Android shortly thereafter. During TikTok's removal, there was a surge in secondhand sales of used iPhones pre-installed with the app, and competitors like Meta-owned Instagram announced new applications to rival TikTok. Users also explored alternative platforms like Clapper and RedNote during TikTok's absence.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

TikTok returns to Android and Apple app stores in the US

TikTok has returned to the app stores of Apple and Google in the U.S. after a temporary blackout, following President Donald Trump's decision to postpone a potential ban until April 5, allowing TikTok 75 days to comply with legislation requiring the sale of its U.S. operations. The ban, supported by both parties in Congress, mandates that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, divest its U.S. operations to avoid a complete prohibition of the app due to concerns over espionage and political manipulation. Reports indicate that TikTok's reinstatement was facilitated by assurances from the Trump administration to Apple and Google regarding potential liability. Trump's stance on TikTok has shifted from initially supporting a ban to expressing a more favorable view of the platform. He discussed a potential joint ownership model with TikTok CEO Shou Chew and mentioned various high-profile figures, including Larry Ellison, Elon Musk, Frank McCourt, and Kevin O'Leary, as potential buyers. Additionally, MrBeast, a popular YouTuber, has shown interest in acquiring TikTok after receiving outreach from investors.

AppWizard

February 11, 2025

TikTok to give package kits on its website for US Android users to download app

TikTok has enabled Android users to download and connect to its platform directly from its website to bypass restrictions imposed by U.S. app stores since a law took effect on January 19, requiring its parent company, ByteDance, to divest ownership or face a ban due to national security concerns. The app has approximately 170 million users in the U.S. Former President Donald Trump has discussed the potential sale of TikTok and ordered the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund that could aid in its acquisition. U.S. officials are concerned about the misuse of American user data, but TikTok claims its data is securely stored in the U.S. and that content moderation decisions are made domestically. The law, which has bipartisan support and was signed by President Joe Biden, continues to be debated, particularly by free speech advocates.

AppWizard

February 8, 2025

If not via the App Store, here’s how to download TikTok on Android in the U.S.

TikTok has announced that Android users in the U.S. can download the app from its official website due to its absence from Google and Apple’s app stores, following a new U.S. law effective January 19 that requires ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban. Despite the law, TikTok remains unavailable on both platforms, and President Trump has signed an executive order delaying enforcement by 75 days while discussions for a potential acquisition continue. TikTok has approximately 170 million users in the U.S. and has denied allegations regarding the misuse of user data, stating that data is stored securely in the U.S. on Oracle-operated cloud servers. Concerns about ByteDance's ownership persist, and while there is bipartisan support for a ban, free speech advocates argue it undermines digital rights. The future of TikTok in the U.S. is uncertain, with no confirmation from ByteDance about a potential sale.

AppWizard

February 8, 2025

TikTok allows US Android users to download app via website

TikTok has enabled US Android users to download its app directly from its website to bypass restrictions from a law that threatens to ban the platform unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests ownership. Since the law's enactment on January 19, Apple and Google have not reinstated TikTok in their app stores due to national security concerns. The legislation requires ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban, halting new downloads from official app stores while current users can still access the app. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order delaying enforcement of this law by 75 days and is in discussions regarding a potential acquisition of TikTok. He has also proposed creating a sovereign wealth fund to facilitate the acquisition, though details are unclear. TikTok has 170 million users in the US and denies allegations of being a security threat, stating that user data is stored on Oracle-operated cloud servers and content moderation is done domestically. The ban has faced criticism from free speech advocates, and concerns persist about ByteDance's potential obligations to the Chinese government regarding user data. TikTok maintains it operates independently and has measures to protect user information. ByteDance has not disclosed plans for the sale of TikTok or legal challenges to the law.

AppWizard

February 8, 2025

TikTok Allows US Android Users To Download App Via Kits On Its Website

TikTok announced that it is enabling US Android users to download and access the app directly through package kits on its website due to ongoing restrictions from Apple and Google. This decision follows a US law enacted on January 19 that requires TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest ownership or face a potential ban. President Trump has expressed intentions to delay enforcement of this law and is considering a potential acquisition of TikTok. Concerns about data privacy have been raised by US officials, but TikTok asserts that its data is securely stored in the US and that content moderation is handled domestically. The law has garnered significant support in Congress, and there are strong opinions regarding the implications for free speech.

AppWizard

February 8, 2025

TikTok enables U.S. Android users to download app via website

On February 7, TikTok announced that U.S. Android users can download and access the platform directly from its website. This decision is in response to legislation effective January 19, requiring TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest ownership or face a potential ban due to national security concerns. Since the law's enactment, Apple and Google have not reinstated TikTok in their app stores. Former President Donald Trump is seeking a 75-day delay in enforcement, indicating possible negotiations for a sale of TikTok. TikTok has approximately 170 million users in the U.S. Trump signed an executive order for a sovereign wealth fund, which could facilitate TikTok's acquisition. U.S. officials are concerned about data misuse under ByteDance, while advocates for free speech oppose the ban. TikTok claims that U.S. officials have misrepresented its ties to China, stating that user data is stored on Oracle-operated servers in the U.S. and that content moderation is conducted domestically.

TrendTechie

February 5, 2025

Французские ученые нашли способ слежки за пользователями торрент-трекеров

Researchers from the French National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Control tracked user activities on torrent trackers for 103 days, collecting 148 million IP addresses and identifying 2 billion copies of files, many of which were unlicensed. They observed the distribution of 500,000 to 750,000 files at any moment and identified 1.4 million unique .torrent files, noting that a small number of individuals shared the majority of these files. The UK has enacted legislation requiring internet service providers to disconnect users accused of downloading pirated content, while the Supreme Court of Ireland upheld the legality of disconnecting users accused of music piracy. In 2008, Europeans downloaded €10 billion worth of copyrighted materials without charge, resulting in 185,000 job losses in the creative sectors. The European Parliament is reviewing statistics related to digital piracy, and several EU countries are drafting anti-piracy legislation. UNESCO announced the launch of the "Global Anti-Piracy Observatory" on World Book and Copyright Day.

AppWizard

October 26, 2024

WeChat among apps banned from Hong Kong govt computers

Hong Kong's government has updated its information security guidelines to enhance cybersecurity, restricting the use of messaging and cloud storage applications like WeChat, WhatsApp, and Google Drive on government-operated computers. The Digital Policy Office cited concerns over end-to-end encryption technology in these services that could bypass cybersecurity defenses, making it challenging to detect and respond to threats. The new regulations, inspired by measures in the U.S. and mainland China, will take effect at the end of October, with potential exceptions approved by department heads. Additionally, a new cybersecurity law is expected to be introduced by the end of the year to address critical infrastructure security.