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Justice Department Says TikTok Collected US User Views On Issues Like Abortion And Gun Control

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TikTok, ByteDance File Appeal
TikTok | AP News Image

Washington  — In a new broadside against one of the world’s most popular technological businesses, the Justice Department accuses TikTok of utilizing the capability to collect large amounts of data on users depending on their views on sensitive social issues such as gun control, abortion, and religion.

In documents filed late Friday with the federal appeals court in Washington, US lawyers stated that TikTok and its Beijing-based parent firm ByteDance used an internal web-suite system called Lark to allow TikTok personnel to communicate directly with ByteDance engineers in China.

TikTok personnel used Lark to communicate sensitive data about US customers, which was eventually kept on Chinese servers and made available to ByteDance employees in China, according to federal officials.

Justice Department Says TikTok Collected US User Views On Issues Like Abortion And Gun Control

According to the lawsuit, one of Lark’s internal search tools allows ByteDance and TikTok workers in the United States and China to collect data on users’ content or emotions, including views on sensitive topics like abortion or religion. Last year, the Wall Street Journal claimed that TikTok used a dashboard to track customers who watched LGBTQ content, which the business later erased.

The latest court briefs are the government’s first significant defense in a critical legal struggle for the survival of the popular social media platform utilized by over 170 million Americans. According to a law signed by President Joe Biden in April, the corporation may risk a ban in a few months if it does not cut links with ByteDance.

The bill passed with bipartisan backing after senators and administration officials raised fears that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data or impact public opinion in Beijing’s favor by altering the algorithm that populates users’ feeds.

“‘Intelligence reporting further demonstrates that ByteDance and TikTok Global have taken action in response to (Chinese government) demands to censor content outside of China,” Casey Blackburn, a senior US intelligence official, wrote in a document that bolstered the government’s assertions.

The Justice Department issued a harsh warning about the potential for “covert content manipulation” by the Chinese government, claiming that the algorithm might be used to affect the content that users receive.

“By directing ByteDance or TikTok to covertly manipulate that algorithm, China could for example further its existing malign influence operations and amplify its efforts to undermine trust in our democracy and exacerbate social divisions,” according to the brief.

The Justice Department stated that the risk is more than theoretical, charging that TikTok and ByteDance personnel engage in a technique known as “heating,” in which particular videos are boosted in order to get a specific number of views. While this feature allows TikTok to curate and distribute popular material more widely, US officials believe it might potentially be used for malicious purposes.

Federal officials are requesting that the court accept a classified version of the legal brief, which would be inaccessible to the two companies.

Nothing in the redacted brief “changes the fact that the Constitution is on our side,” TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek stated.

“The TikTok ban would silence 170 million Americans’ voices, violating the 1st Amendment,” according to Haurek. “As we’ve stated previously, the government has never provided proof of its allegations, including when Congress passed this unlawful statute. Today, the administration is taking an unprecedented move while concealing sensitive information. We remain convinced that we will win in court.”

In the redacted portion of the court documents, the Justice Department stated that another tool triggered content suppression based on the use of specific terms. Certain tool policies apply to ByteDance users in China, where the business maintains a comparable app called Douyin, which adheres to Beijing’s rigorous censorship laws.

However, Justice Department officials stated that other policies may have applied to TikTok users outside of China. TikTok was looking into the existence of these policies and whether they had ever been applied in the United States before or around 2022, authorities said.

The government cites the Lark data transfers as evidence of why federal officials do not believe Project Texas, TikTok’s $1.5 billion mitigation plan to keep U.S. user data on servers owned and maintained by tech behemoth Oracle, is adequate to protect against national security issues.

Justice Department Says TikTok Collected US User Views On Issues Like Abortion And Gun Control

TikTok’s legal challenge to the law has relied mainly on allegations that the prospective ban violates the First Amendment by preventing the app from continuing to speak until it recruits a new owner through a lengthy divestiture process. It has also stated that divestment will alter the platform’s discourse by resulting in a version of TikTok that lacks the algorithm that has fuelled its popularity.

In its response, the Justice Department stated that TikTok had not made any valid free speech allegations, that the statute addresses national security concerns without targeting protected expression, and that China and ByteDance, as foreign businesses, are not protected under the First Amendment.

TikTok has also contended that US law discriminates based on beliefs, citing statements from senators disapproving of what they saw as an anti-Israel bias on the platform during the Gaza war.

Officials at the Justice Department dispute that argument, claiming that the law at issue reflects their ongoing concern that China could weaponise technology against US national security, a fear exacerbated by demands that companies controlled by Beijing turn over sensitive data to the government. They argue that TikTok’s current operating structure requires it to respond to those demands.

Oral arguments in the case are set for September.

SOURCE | AP

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Unprecedented 4.7 Earthquake Strikes Near Los Angeles.

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Earthquake

(VOR News) – Early Thursday morning, an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.6 rocked the Los Angeles area. Early in the morning is when the earthquake was first felt.

All around the region, the effects of the earthquake were felt. Millions of individuals who resided in the region were greatly impacted by the earthquake.

The United States Geological Survey reports that the earthquake occurred at around 7:28 a.m. and that its epicentre was located around 4.3 miles north of Malibu. It was found more than seven km below the surface.

When the earthquake was first recorded, its magnitude was given as 5.1; it was then changed to 4.6 and then updated again to 4.7. It was eventually established that the magnitude was 4.7.

Many KTLA viewers reported feeling the earthquake throughout Orange County, the Inland Empire, and the coast. Furthermore, a number of Orange County residents have claimed to have experienced it.

There have been no reports of property damage or person injuries as of seventy-five minutes after the hour. Furthermore, it was difficult to get hold of any additional information that might have been sent.

recent seismic events that have taken place in California. We kindly ask that you wait before continuing after the map has appeared on the screen.

You may zoom in and out of the image and move around it with your thumb or the buttons on your smartphone.

It is anticipated that hundreds of earthquakes occur in the state of California each year, the most majority of which are thought to be extremely minor in magnitude. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that there are up to several hundred earthquakes with a magnitude of 3.0, and between 15 and 20 earthquakes larger than 4.0.

There is just one state in North America where the annual number of earthquakes is higher than that of California. This is one of those states. Alaska is where we are.

What steps ought to be done in the event of an earthquake?

Knowing what actions should be taken in the event of an earthquake is crucial for both self-defence and reducing the risk of physical harm.

Furthermore, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) offers comprehensive guidelines on what steps should be followed to address the issue in the case that incidents of this kind occur. To go into more detail, the following is the most crucial point:

Please drop, maintain your hold, and cover your head:

It is advised that you start by lowering yourself to the ground as quickly as you can while on your hands and knees. Maintaining this position will help you avoid falling and, should you need to crawl to safety, it will also allow you to blend in with the surroundings.

Before proceeding to the following stage, find cover behind a sturdy table or desk and use one arm to protect your head and neck.

You should complete this before proceeding to the next stage, if at all possible. You should use the other arm to protect your head and neck. If you are unable to find another place to hide, you should arrange yourself so that you are next to an interior wall that is not directly across from any windows.

It is advised to keep your body in a kneeling position and to bend over as much as you can to safeguard your important organs.

For as long as the earthquake persists, you must stay in the safe area that you are now in. You ought to have made plans to move with your shelter in case something happened to it.

SOURCE: KTLA

SEE ALSO:

Missouri’s Supreme Court Rejects a Republican Effort to Remove an Abortion Vote.

Shares of Trump Media Plunged After the GOP Nominee Debated Harris.

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Taylor Swift Supports Kamala Harris as a “Steadyhanded” Leader.

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Taylor Swift

(VOR News) – Taylor Swift has put her support behind Kamala Harris in her bid to become the next President of the United States of America with her endorsement.

As a result of this decision, months of speculation regarding the musical performer who is considered to be the most famous in the world has been put to rest. Swift referred to Harris as “a gifted, steady-handed leader.” Harris was described in this way.

On Tuesday evening, just after the vice president and her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, concluded their presidential debate, Taylor Swift posted a message on Instagram. “I think we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”

Taylor Swift stated in her writing.

Responding to Trump’s recent dissemination of a social media message that falsely claimed to be her endorsement, Swift disclosed that she had told individuals of her intention to vote.

This was done in response to Trump’s recent actions. My concerns regarding the dangers that are commonly connected with artificial intelligence and the dissemination of false information were heightened as a result of this. I came to the conclusion that I need to prioritise openness as a result of this,” she stated.

Swift made use of the signature phrase “Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady” in response to JD Vance’s assertion that “childless cat ladies” were in charge of the presidency of the United States of America.

The singer, who is thirty-four years old, does not have any children and his only pets are three. In 2018, she gave her official support to the Democratic candidate for the Senate in Tennessee, and she put her support behind Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for the 2020 election.

On Tuesday, the information regarding the several ways in which her followers can register to vote was posted on her Instagram account. The number of people that follow her on that platform is 283 million.

The song “Freedom” by Harris has become an unofficial campaign hymn as a result of the support of other well-known celebrities, such as Beyoncé, who granted her permission to use the song for rallies and advertising purposes.

Rolling Stone reports that Beyoncé wrote a letter to the campaign of Donald Trump, requesting that they stop using the term “Freedom,” after the campaign of Trump published a video that featured the term.

Taylor Swift has been the subject of numerous right-wing conspiracy theories, one of which asserts that she was involved in a scheme to ensure that Biden remains in the White House. These viewpoints have been directed towards Taylor Swift due to the fact that she is one of the most famous performers in the history of the world and a cultural icon in the United States.

Following the revelation of an Islamist terrorist plot to attack Swift’s followers during the show, authorities in Austria were compelled to cancel three of Swift’s concerts that were scheduled to take place as recently as the previous month.

Planned was for Taylor Swift Austria to host the rock shows.

During the early stages of her career, Taylor Swift, who began her career in Nashville, adhered to the customs of the country music industry and refrained from making public statements regarding political problems.

After some time had passed, she did, however, express regret for her silence regarding Trump in 2016. During the upcoming documentary that will be shown on Netflix, she is heard telling her father, “I need to be on the right side of history,” in the year 2020.

During an appearance on MSNBC, Swift’s running mate Tim Walz expressed his gratitude for Swift’s endorsement. He referred to Swift’s speech as “eloquent” and urged her supporters to support Harris. In addition, Walz sent his appreciation to Swift for her support of the Harris campaign.

In a speech that he delivered early Wednesday morning, Trump stated that he was “not a fan of Taylor Swift.”

“She is a very liberal individual who consistently endorses a Democrat, and it is likely that she will face repercussions in the marketplace,” he added. In his statement, he was referring to the fact that she consistently supports Democratic candidates.

SOURCE: FT

SEE ALSO:

Shares of Trump Media Plunged After the GOP Nominee Debated Harris.

Missouri’s Supreme Court Rejects a Republican Effort to Remove an Abortion Vote.

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Shares of Trump Media Plunged After the GOP Nominee Debated Harris.

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Trump Media

(VOR News) – The day after Trump Media, the company’s biggest shareholder, had a performance at the presidential debate that drew heavy criticism for disparaging Vice President Kamala Harris.

The share price of Trump Media fell by more than 13% on Wednesday. At Harris, the performance was aimed at. The act was directed at Harris.

Since the proprietor of the Truth Social app began actively trading as DJT on the Nasdaq at the beginning of March, the company’s stock price has dropped to its lowest intraday level. The price of shares has dropped significantly since that time.

A Trump Media share purchase is usually viewed as a political bet.

This is because Trump is the person that the Republican Party is now considering and has served as president in the past. This is because Donald Trump is serving as the Republican Party’s nominee at the moment.

Analysts forecast that the value of Trump Media would either rise or fall based on Donald Trump’s chances of winning the election. This will happen depending on how the election turns out.

According to a statement from Trump Media, the popularity of Donald Trump at least plays a major role in the success of the company’s operations.

The fact that stock prices dropped on Wednesday suggests that some of Trump’s fans may not have been happy with what they witnessed during the Tuesday night debate in Philadelphia. The subject was discussed on Tuesday.

In comparison to Trump, who frequently answered her bait in an attempt to deflect him from the issue at hand, Harris appeared to be more prepared, more fluid, and more composed. Political pundits agreed that both liberals and conservatives were right in their appraisals of Harris when they attacked him.

Trump was challenged by Harris’s team to take part in another discussion as soon as the first debate concluded. This was done to give the impression that the debate process was confident.

Trump Media might not acknowledge the comments’ accuracy.

On Wednesday, he persisted in his insistence that Harris was only interested in talking to him again because she had been “beaten badly.” He made this comment to bolster his earlier assertion. This was the claim he made in a post on Truth Social.

“Why would I do a rematch?” he posed to the audience throughout his performance. They were offered the chance to react.

It’s probable that the ten percent gain in Trump Media’s stock during Tuesday’s trading was due to investors’ high expectations for Trump’s performance in the debate.

Following its merger with a blank-check company, Trump Media—which was then privately held—saw a 75% decline in stock price from its intraday high in late March. The implosion, which had been ongoing for weeks, caused the stock price to fall up to 75% from its peak. The company’s progress on Monday and Tuesday offered a much-needed break from the collapse.

Vice President Joe Biden announced his decision to resign from the presidential race at the same time as the fall, endorsing Harris to take his place as the front-runner on the Democratic ticket.

It also happened in the days preceding the start of the period during which Trump and other executives of the corporation will be able to begin selling their stock.

With almost 57% of the shares, Trump is the only proprietor of the business. The stake was valued at more than $1.8 billion in the sum that was offered during the Wednesday morning auction.

When the lock-up agreement expires on September 19, it is unclear whether or not Trump plans to start the process of selling off his ownership stake in the business.

SOURCE: CNBC

SEE ALSO:

Missouri’s Supreme Court Rejects a Republican Effort to Remove an Abortion Vote.

RCMP Arrest Somali Man For Smuggling Eight Africans into Canada

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