(200928) -- CULVER, Sept. 28, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on Aug. 21, 2020 shows a logo of the video-sharing social networking company TikTok's Los Angeles Office in Culver City, Los Angeles County, the United States. A federal judge on Sunday decided to halt the Trump administration's ban on the popular video-sharing app TikTok, just a few hours before the controversial ban is set to take effect. (Xinhua)

Topic

TikToki

Latest news and updates on TikTok, the globally popular social media platform. The app, which merged with Musical.ly in 2018, lets users create short videos under a minute long complete with visual effects and background music. It has since come under scrutiny in countries like the US and India because it is owned by a Chinese company. Critics have accused the app of posing a national security risk, a claim that TikTok has repeatedly denied. Known as Douyin in China, the app is owned by Beijing-based startup ByteDance, also behind the Chinese news aggregator Jinri Toutiao.

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US presidential candidates lack consistent attitude towards TikTok as legislation that would ban the app passes the House of Representatives. Amid widening technology gap, US must reflect on why an algorithm developed in China gained prominence within the American market.

The US and China should consider how the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and investors can be properly protected in the United States without raising unfair security concerns.

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  • ‘It would be in the financial interest of ByteDance’s investors to effectuate a forced sale,’ said congressman Mike Gallagher
  • Efforts to remove Chinese corporate influence over social-media platform is back on US political agenda in an election year

Concerns about Beijing’s potential to threaten US national security have spurred several bills seeking more scrutiny about who is representing Chinese interests.

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Italian regulators have fined TikTok nearly US$11 million for failing to protect children, while the Canadian government is reviewing TikTok’s expansion plan for national security risks.

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US senators from both sides of the aisle swatted down the idea of fast-tracking legislation that would force TikTok’s Chinese owner to sell the video-sharing app within six months, reducing its prospects of becoming law.

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Reneé Rapp and Towa Bird, both 24, officially confirmed their relationship by making their red carpet debut at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party this week … so what do we know about the musician?

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Seeing e-vehicles as ‘iPhone on wheels’ or cargo cranes as ‘Trojan horses’ yields never-ending cycle and ‘excessive anxiety’, says Ambassador Xie Feng.

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The European Commission also is looking into whether the company did enough to prevent minors from accessing pornographic material via its online marketplace.

ByteDance’s latest semiconductor-related investment shows the lengths being taken by the company to overcome the impact of tighter US tech sanctions on mainland China.

Albanese said ‘we have no plans’ to replicate a move by US legislators to ban the app unless it agrees to divest from its Chinese owner.

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From scene pioneers Burna Boy and Wizkid, to Gen Z upstarts Rema and Ayra Starr, these are the Nigerian artists setting our Spotify playlists on fire

Fast-tracked legislation on the short-video app, which passed 352-65, now heads to Senate, where passage is less clear; US President Joe Biden has said he would sign the bill into law.

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Ex-president’s U-turn coincides with recent meeting held with billionaire Republican megadonor who is deeply invested in parent company ByteDance.

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Experts issue warnings about the Chinese military build-up in the western Pacific and about expanded ties between China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

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Moscow’s dire circumstances could lead to upended ‘non-proliferation norms’ and fuel disinformation meant to interfere with elections, Senate hears.

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Many Chinese netizens on Weibo and former Global Times editor Hu Xijin praised TikTok for urging American users to flood legislators with calls against a new bill.

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Rising baseball talent Paul Skenes recently threw a triple-digit heater that blew up on social media – but that’s nothing compared to the attention his girlfriend Livvy Dunne gets on TikTok …

Social media is awash with ways to protect your immune system – and one of the more recent to go viral on TikTok is #ImmunityCube. Experts break the trend down, and we provide an immunity cube recipe.

The aim of such propaganda is to weaken the EU’s resolve and benefit anti-immigration parties in Germany, France and the Netherlands, an analyst says.

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US president says he would sign the legislation if Congress passes it, with a vote in the House of Representatives possible as early as next week.

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Boxer Ryan Garcia has doubled down on his erratic and outspoken behaviour in recent days, ranting to Andrew Tate and sharing disturbing videos online – here’s what you need to know about him

Chinese state media has voiced support for TikTok, as its owner ByteDance faces pressure to sell the business in the US after a House committee approved two new bills targeting the hit short video app.