The European Union has ordered TikTok to modify its "addictive design" or face significant fines, while in Italy, protests and geopolitical tensions marred the opening of the Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, thousands of businesses in Malawi closed in protest over tax changes, and Italy declined to join Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" due to constitutional limitations.
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 the risks, according to BBC Technology. A TikTok spokesperson, however, told the BBC that the findings were a "categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform" and that the company planned to challenge them. The EU's investigation began in February 2024.
In Italy, the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan became an outlet for expressions of anger, as jeers were directed at the Israeli delegation and US Vice President JD Vance, according to Sky News. The opening day also saw approximately 10,000 people protesting housing costs and the environmental impact of the Games. Italian police responded to a breakaway group of about 100 protesters near a Winter Olympics venue by firing tear gas and water cannons after they threw firecrackers, smoke bombs, and bottles, as reported by Sky News.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that Italy could not join US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" due to conflicts between the country's constitution and the board's charter, according to Al Jazeera. Tajani added that Italy would remain open to discussing peace initiatives.
In Malawi, demonstrations across the country's four main cities led to a delay in the introduction of a new tax regime, which business owners claimed would cripple their livelihoods. Thousands of businesses closed in protest, and petitions with tens of thousands of signatures were presented to tax authorities, according to The Guardian.
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