The European Union has ordered TikTok to change its "addictive design" or face significant fines, following an investigation into the video-sharing platform's online safety practices. The EU's findings, announced in February 2024, 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, according to the BBC Technology.
The investigation by the European Commission, which began in February 2024, focused on TikTok's compliance with online safety rules. A TikTok spokesperson, however, told the BBC that the findings presented a "categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform" and that the company planned to challenge the decision. The EU's concerns center on the potential negative impacts of TikTok's design on user well-being.
Meanwhile, Portugal is facing a crucial presidential run-off election on Sunday, with immigration as a central issue, according to Al Jazeera. The election is being framed as a battle between democracy and radicalism, with the far-right gaining traction. Reporting from Portugal, Al Jazeera noted the surge of the far-right Chega party, led by candidate Andre Ventura.
Adding to the challenges, a "storm train" has battered Spain and Portugal, forcing over 11,000 people to evacuate their homes, Sky News reported. Tragically, a man, believed to be around 70 years old, died in Portugal after his car was swept away by floodwaters. A second body was also found in Malaga, Spain, after a woman was swept away while trying to rescue her dog.
In Japan, the country is holding a snap election on Sunday, marking the first electoral test for Japan's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, since she took office, according to Sky News. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is projected to win a decisive mandate, thanks to the support of younger voters.
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