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EU Launches Formal Probe Into TikTok

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The European Union (EU) has officially launched an investigation into TikTok, accusing the popular video-sharing app of violating obligations to protect minors online.

This move comes under the recently enacted Digital Services Act (DSA) and marks the second major probe into online platforms following the scrutiny of Elon Musk’s X in December.

The EU is particularly focused on concerns that TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, may not be adequately addressing the potential negative impacts on young users.

A significant concern revolves around the “rabbit hole” effect, where users are exposed to potentially more dangerous content through algorithmically recommended related content.

The EU is particularly worried about TikTok’s age verification tools, expressing doubts about their reasonability, proportionality, and effectiveness.

The Commission has initiated formal proceedings to investigate potential breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA) by TikTok.

This includes examining areas such as “advertising transparency” and “data access for researchers.”

The decision to investigate was prompted by an in-depth analysis of TikTok’s risk assessment report and its responses to Brussels’ inquiries about actions taken against illegal content, measures for protecting minors, and data access.

The commission emphasizes its commitment to ongoing evidence collection, asserting the authority to implement further enforcement actions if deemed essential.

EU I ternam market commissioner, Thierry Breton said “As a platform that reaches millions of children and teenagers, TikTok must fully comply with the DSA and has a particular role to play in the protection of minors online.

“We are launching this formal infringement proceeding today to ensure that proportionate action is taken to protect the physical and emotional well-being of young Europeans. We must spare no effort to protect our children,”

TikTok’s monthly user base in the European Union has risen to over 142 million, marking an increase from 125 million reported last year.

Commission executive vice president Margrethe Vestager emphasized that TikTok must thoroughly assess the risks associated with its services for users of all ages.

The formal investigation will concentrate on four key areas: TikTok’s assessment and mitigation of systemic risks, compliance with measures to protect minors’ privacy and safety, the creation of a “reliable” advertisement repository, and efforts to enhance transparency.

In response, TikTok stated its commitment to working on online protection measures for minors.

A TikTok spokesperson said “TikTok has pioneered features and settings to protect teens and keep under 13s off the platform, issues the whole industry is grappling with.

“We’ll continue to work with experts and industry to keep young people on TikTok safe, and look forward to now having the opportunity to explain this work in detail to the Commission.

The proceedings have no set deadline for completion.

Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), Brussels possesses the authority to impose substantial fines, reaching up to six percent of a digital firm’s global revenues for violations.

In cases of serious and repeated breaches, the commission holds the power to block platforms in the 27-nation bloc.

This EU law, effective since last year, applies to major online platforms globally, including TikTok, X, Facebook, and Instagram.

 

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DStv, GOtv Subscribers To Experience Service Outages

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Subscribers of DSTV and GOtv in Nigeria have been notified of upcoming service disruptions from Sunday, May 5, to Tuesday, May 7, due to ongoing construction on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

DStv reassured its customers via social media that technical staff will be relocating a facility within the right-of-way to minimize service interruptions during this time.

The statement read, “Our uplink facility will be impacted by the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road construction project. As a result, we are forced to relocate.

“From Sunday, May 5, 2024 to Tuesday May 7, 2024, our technical team will be working tirelessly to relocate and minimise disruptions during the exercise.

“We appreciate your patience and understanding during this period and remain dedicated to delivering the quality service and support you expect from DStv and GOtv.”

 

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Court Slaps Linda Ikeji With N30m Damages To NBM

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A Delta State High Court in Effurun has ruled in favor of the Registered Trustees of the Neo-Black Movement of Africa, awarding them N30 million in damages in a libel case against popular Nigerian blogger, Linda Ikeji.

The lawsuit, with Ese Kakor, Felix Kupa, and Mayor Onyebueke as claimants, resulted in the court ordering Ikeji to pay N300,000 in litigation costs.

Presiding Justice Roli Daibo-Harriman delivered the verdict in Suit No: EHC/210/2021 on Monday.

Additionally, Ikeji was instructed to publish a retraction of the libellous statements on her blog and in national dailies.

Furthermore, Ikeji has been restrained from making further damaging publications against the claimants.

The Neo-Black Movement of Africa (NBM) took the legal action against Linda Ikeji after she allegedly failed to retract and apologize for a defamatory article published on her blog on October 19, 2021.

The article reportedly labeled the NBM of Africa as a dreaded cult group, black axe, and criminal organization, prompting the claimants to seek N1 billion in damages and an unreserved apology to be published on Ikeji’s blog and in two national newspapers.

Justice Daibo-Harriman, in her ruling, deemed the terms “dreaded cultist group,” “black axe,” and “criminal organization” used in the Defendant’s publication as defamatory.

Kelvin Agbroko, Counsel to the Claimants, emphasized that the ruling “Will serve as a lesson to bloggers that it is not every item you publish. It is good to verify information before making a publication.”

He said, “NBM of Africa is a legal organisation duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. The publication made by the Defendant against my client has been cleared that it was a damaging publication.

“NBM is good to go, we are going to take all necessary steps to enforce the terms of the judgment against her. It was an erudite judgement that is all-encompassing and will be difficult to fault.”

Ese Kakor, President of the NBM of Africa, revealed that the legal proceedings regarding the case had been ongoing for approximately two years.

Kakor expressed his dismay at Linda Ikeji’s actions, stating, “What Ikeji did was just to sell in a bid to defame the character of NBM of Africa. It is very wrong.”

He advised other bloggers against following similar steps, cautioning that they may also face litigation for defamation.

Kakor clarified that the NBM of Africa has no association with cultism, black axe, or criminal activities, emphasizing that it is a well-registered organization.

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Tragedy As VGC Chairman Found Dead In His Car

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In a shocking turn of events, Gihan Mbelu, the esteemed chairman of Victoria Garden City in Lagos’s bustling Lekki area, was found lifeless inside his vehicle.

 

His sudden demise has prompts police inquiry into the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death.

The 42-year-old financial luminary and venture capitalist was found unconscious in his opulent C300 4Matic vehicle around 10:10 am on Friday, April 26, 2024.

According to report, Mbelu was swiftly transported to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, where a doctor on duty confirmed his unfortunate demise.

Meanwhile, concerned individuals took it upon themselves to examine his vehicle, which had been running for hours at the spot where it was parked.

The post reads “Concerned by the discovery, some of the people in the area, upon close observation of the vehicle, found Mbelu in it.

“While some people speculated that the 42-year-old man might be sleeping, some other persons, who were bent on ascertaining Mbelu’s true state, reportedly made frantic efforts to wake him up but it proved abortive.

“In a bid to rescue Mbelu, it was learnt that he was rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital where he was reportedly confirmed dead by one of the doctors on duty.

“Mbelu’s corpse was said to have been deposited in the hospital’s morgue. The case was also reported to the police for an investigation to commence to ascertain the circumstances surrounding Mbelu’s death.”

Prior to his demise, Mbelu was married to Eloho, a distinguished tech entrepreneur, former investment banker, and private equity investor. Together, they are parents to two daughters.

In response to the news, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the state police command, affirmed the incident on Saturday, April 27, disclosing that an investigation has been launched into the matter.

 

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