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Federal Devices Can Now Run TikTok After Ownership Restructure

The Justice Department says the new US-controlled entity no longer carries the national security risks that triggered the 2022 ban, though individual agencies retain veto power.

By Daniel R. Whitfield·Jul 19, 2026·4 min read
Policy

U.S. Lifts TikTok Ban for Federal Devices After Oracle-Led Restructure

Justice Department reverses 2022 policy as restructured joint venture clears security concerns, marking another turn in Washington's approac…

Daniel R. Whitfield ·   · 4m
Policy

Meta Introduces Parent Alerts When Teens Discuss Self-Harm With AI Chatbot

The social media giant's new detection system aims to intervene before crisis moments escalate, but raises questions about privacy trade-off…

Priya Nair ·   · 6m
Policy

Google Bets Big on Solar-Battery Hybrid in Arkansas While xAI Runs Unpermitted Gas Turbines

The 1.8-gigawatt Steel River project highlights a widening divide in how hyperscalers power AI infrastructure - and who bears the cost of sp…

Arjun S. Mehta ·   · 6m
Policy

Apple Clears China AI Hurdle After Two-Year Wait

Regulatory registration paves the way for Intelligence features to reach one of the iPhone maker's most important markets, powered by Baidu …

Wei Zhang ·   · 5m
Policy

Google Play to Host Rival App Stores After Epic Settlement Collapses

A federal antitrust case that started with Fortnite V-Bucks is forcing Google to distribute competitors on its own platform - potentially re…

Arjun S. Mehta ·   · 5m
Policy

Meta Faces Legal Challenge Over Algorithmic Workforce Cuts

Twenty-six terminated employees allege the tech giant relied on internal AI systems to determine layoff targets, bypassing traditional manag…

Arjun S. Mehta ·   · 5m
Policy

Google DeepMind Chief Proposes Industry-Funded Standards Body for Frontier AI Models

Demis Hassabis floats a FINRA-style regulator staffed by technical experts, aiming to sidestep White House resistance while addressing gaps …

Daniel R. Whitfield ·   · 6m
Policy

Publishers Launch Class Action Against Google Over Gemini Training Data

Hachette, Cengage, and Elsevier claim the tech giant repurposed books licensed for search into AI training sets without consent…

Arjun S. Mehta ·   · 6m
Policy

AI Boom Reshapes Japan's Topix as Memory Chipmakers Crowd Out Smaller Stocks

Kioxia's tenfold valuation surge and soaring tech caps are tightening the roster of Tokyo's benchmark index, accelerating the exit of mid-ti…

Kenji Watanabe ·   · 5m
Policy

Home Routers Remain Prime Target in Persistent FSB Infrastructure Campaign

Federal agencies across five nations issue coordinated alert as Russia's Center 16 exploits poorly secured edge devices to mask intrusions i…

Arjun S. Mehta ·   · 4m
Policy

Japan Targets 10,000 Autonomous Vehicles by 2030 with Nationwide Network Plan

Tokyo's infrastructure push aims to bridge automakers and telecom firms in Asia's most ambitious self-driving deployment roadmap yet…

Kenji Watanabe ·   · 4m
Policy

When a Zero-Day Becomes an Exit Liability

Apple's lawsuit against a former engineer reveals how an unpatched authentication flaw let a departing employee access internal systems week…

Arjun S. Mehta ·   · 6m
Policy

Brussels Orders Meta to Dismantle Infinite Scroll and Autoplay or Face Billion-Dollar Fine

European regulators say Facebook and Instagram's engagement mechanics breach the Digital Services Act by pushing users into "autopilot mode"…

Mei-Lin Tan ·   · 6m
Policy

Brussels Targets Infinite Scroll as Meta Faces DSA Violation Charge

The European Commission's preliminary findings challenge the architecture of engagement-driven design, with fines potentially reaching 6% of…

Daniel R. Whitfield ·   · 5m
Policy

Microsoft's Carbon Footprint Swells Amid AI Infrastructure Surge

The tech giant's emissions jumped 25 percent in fiscal 2025, testing its pledge to go carbon negative by 2030 as data center expansion outpa…

Arjun S. Mehta ·   · 5m
Policy

Brussels Takes Aim at Infinite Scroll and Autoplay

A preliminary EU finding that Meta's flagship platforms breach addictive-design standards could force product teams to rethink core engageme…

Marcus Halloran ·   · 5m
Policy

Europe Orders Meta to Strip Features Engineers Designed to Keep You Scrolling

Brussels says autoplay and infinite feeds didn't pass basic risk assessment; compliance deadline looms with fines up to 6% of global revenue…

Daniel R. Whitfield ·   · 5m
Policy

Polestar's US Exit Leaves Thousands of Owners Without Clear Service Path

As federal connected-vehicle rules force the Swedish-Chinese EV maker out of American showrooms, a larger question emerges: who maintains an…

Arjun S. Mehta ·   · 4m
Policy

FCC Approves Satellite That Beams Sunlight to Earth, Astronomers Push Back

Reflect Orbital's demo won spectrum clearance despite warnings about sky brightness and safety risks, exposing a gap in US space regulation.…

Daniel R. Whitfield ·   · 5m
Policy

US Regulators Move Against Companies Allegedly Circumventing DJI Equipment Ban

The FCC has issued fines and compliance demands to eight firms suspected of acting as intermediaries for the Chinese manufacturer's restrict…

Marcus Halloran ·   · 5m
Policy

Uber Wants Every Robotaxi to Share Its App - and Waymo Won't Play Along

A Washington, D.C. autonomy bill has exposed the ride-hailing giant's plan to mandate hybrid human-robot networks, putting its largest AV pa…

Arjun S. Mehta ·   · 6m
Policy

The EU Weighs Sweeping Age Restrictions on Social Platforms

A new expert report documents four to six hours of daily screen time among European children, prompting Commission president von der Leyen t…

Mei-Lin Tan ·   · 5m
Policy

Twelve States Challenge $110 Billion Paramount-WBD Deal After Federal Approval

A coalition of state attorneys general argues the entertainment merger would reduce competition in film distribution and cable licensing, se…

Marcus Halloran ·   · 5m
Policy

LA Pulls the Plug on Flock's License Plate Cameras Over Data Sharing Disputes

The nation's second-largest police force walked away from automated surveillance after failing to secure guarantees on who controls collecte…

Marcus Halloran ·   · 7m