The European Union has ordered TikTok to modify its "addictive design" or face substantial fines, following an investigation into the video-sharing platform's adherence to online safety regulations. The EU's findings, announced in early February 2026, revealed that TikTok had not adequately assessed how features like autoplay could harm users, including children, and failed to implement sufficient measures to mitigate these risks (BBC Technology, BBC Business).
The investigation, initiated in February 2024 by the European Commission, scrutinized the Chinese-owned app's practices. Preliminary findings indicated concerns about the potential negative impacts of features designed to keep users engaged, particularly on the well-being of young users. A TikTok spokesperson, however, refuted the findings, calling them a "categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform" and stating the company's intention to challenge the EU's conclusions (BBC Technology, BBC Business).
In other international developments, the United States imposed sanctions on 14 nautical vessels, labeling them a "shadow fleet" involved in circumventing restrictions on Iranian oil and petroleum products (Al Jazeera). The US Department of State also sanctioned two individuals and 15 entities, including ship management companies based in countries such as China, Liberia, and Turkiye, for their involvement in trading Iranian-origin crude oil, petroleum products, or petrochemical products (Al Jazeera).
Meanwhile, in Norway, the release of the latest Epstein files has ignited a political controversy. The documents, part of the ongoing legal proceedings related to Jeffrey Epstein's sex offenses, including the trafficking of underage girls, have revealed close ties between two high-placed figures and the late financier (Al Jazeera). The released documents comprise approximately 3 million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 other documents (Al Jazeera).
Amidst these developments, Iranian and American officials were scheduled to begin face-to-face talks in Oman on Friday, February 6, 2026, amidst heightened tensions and fears of potential conflict (Sky News). The discussions, following weeks of threatened military action, involved US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Tehran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi. The US naval build-up near Iran, described by Donald Trump as an "armada," added to the high stakes of the talks (Sky News).
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