Former President Donald Trump's calls for the federal government to "nationalize" elections have raised alarms among election officials, according to a New York Times report. Meanwhile, the European Union has ordered TikTok to change its "addictive design" or face significant fines, as reported by BBC Technology. These developments come as Japan prepares for a snap election and Google employees demand the company cut ties with ICE, highlighting a week of significant political and technological shifts.
Trump's remarks, which suggest a federal takeover of election administration, are at odds with the Constitution, which leaves election management to the states, according to the New York Times. His stance, coupled with his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and his criticism of American elections, has fueled concerns among election officials from both parties. The latest calls come as Republican worries grow.
In Japan, the country is heading to the polls for its second general election in as many years. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is betting on her personal popularity to secure a clear public mandate for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), according to BBC World. This is a political gamble, similar to the one her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, made and lost.
The European Commission found that TikTok had not "adequately assessed" how features like autoplay could harm users, including children, and failed to implement measures to mitigate these risks, as reported by BBC Technology. The EU's decision followed an investigation that began in February 2024. A TikTok spokesperson told the BBC that the findings presented a "categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform" and that the company planned to challenge them.
Google employees are also voicing their concerns. Nearly 900 full-time Google employees demanded more transparency over the company's technology use within the US government, according to BBC Technology. The employees are specifically concerned about Google's ties to federal immigration enforcement, which has recently faced criticism. One Google employee of seven years found it "mind-boggling" that the company was maintaining its ties with immigration enforcement, according to the report.
In other news, the question of US intervention in Iran is a personal one for some Iranians, according to BBC World. One couple who traveled to Tehran in early January found themselves stranded due to protests and flight cancellations. "Life was on pause," Mojdeh said, especially at night, when internet and phone networks were shut down.
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