Good morning. It's Thursday, January 16. Today we are covering:
Let's dive in
Biden administration looks for ways to keep TikTok available in the U.S.
By Carol E. Lee via NBC News
President Joe Biden's administration is exploring options to keep TikTok available in the U.S. despite a potential ban set to take effect on Sunday.
The discussions involve strategies to mitigate the impact of the ban while adhering to national security concerns.
Sources familiar with the matter indicate active deliberations on balancing accessibility and regulatory compliance.
π: BREAKING: Biden White House officials are "exploring options" to keep TikTok available on Sunday, and prevent it from going dark, when the ban is supposed to take effect. - Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing)
A New Jam-Packed Biden Executive Order Tackles Cybersecurity, AI, and More
By Eric Geller via WIRED
President Joe Biden issued a sweeping cybersecurity executive order to enhance government network security, regulate AI use, and punish foreign hackers, just days before leaving office.
The order mandates secure software practices, AI-driven cyber defense initiatives, and digital identity adoption, while addressing vulnerabilities in cloud platforms, IoT devices, and open-source software.
Agencies like CISA, Commerce, and Homeland Security are tasked with implementing guidelines to bolster defenses, leveraging lessons from major hacks like SolarWinds and Microsoft breaches.
π: Biden issues Executive Order giving energy-guzzling AI data centers preferential access to siting and exclusions from bedrock environmental laws. Big Tech companies get more subsidies and special treatment. Meanwhile, your utility bill goes up and the climate burns. - Ben Inskeep (@Ben_Inskeep)
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TikTok, 5 other Chinese firms hit by EU privacy complaints
By Supantha Mukherjee via Reuters
TikTok, Shein, Xiaomi, and three other Chinese firms face EU privacy complaints filed by Austrian advocacy group Noyb, alleging unlawful data transfers to China under the EU's GDPR rules.
Noyb has submitted six complaints across Greece, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Austria, demanding suspension of these data transfers and potential fines of up to 4% of global revenue for the companies involved.
The complaint highlights that companies like TikTok, AliExpress, and WeChat admit to sending European user data to China or unspecified third countries, raising concerns about compliance with EU data protection standards.
π: BREAKING: The European Commission sent formal requests to Bing, Facebook, Google Search, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and X: Following these companies' designation as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) or Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) by the DSA, the European Commission wants more information on how they are mitigating risks linked to generative AI on their services, especially regarding - Luiza Jarovsky (@LuizaJarovsky)
China Begins Probe Into US Chip Grants, Alleged Dumping
Bloomberg
China's Commerce Ministry has launched a probe into allegations that the US is dumping low-end chips and unfairly subsidizing its chipmakers, following complaints from local industry players.
The investigation is seen as a significant retaliatory move amid the ongoing US-China chip conflict, targeting American incentives and grants that allegedly disadvantage Chinese firms.
The probe highlights escalating tensions in the global semiconductor market, with China scrutinizing whether US practices violate trade norms.
Mistral signs deal with AFP to offer up-to-date answers in Le Chat
By Romain Dillet via TechCrunch
Mistral has signed a deal with Agence France-Presse (AFP) to enhance the accuracy of responses in its chatbot Le Chat by integrating access to AFP's archives and daily stories in six languages, excluding photos and videos.
This is Mistral's first content partnership, marking a shift from being solely a foundation model maker to building multilingual AI solutions and competing with leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic.
The partnership benefits AFP by diversifying its revenue sources while allowing Mistral to position itself as an ally to news organizations and mitigate copyright risks
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