Bad news for TikTok, they’ve lost an appeal in the US to stay alive in that country:
A U.S. federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban of TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok’s petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company’s challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment.
“The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court’s opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.”
Ted Miracco, CEO, Approov had this to say:
“The U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on TikTok underscores key concerns in mobile app security, API vulnerabilities, and the dominance of Apple and Google in app ecosystems. While the ban targets national security risks tied to foreign ownership, it also highlights systemic issues in app distribution and the lack of federal data privacy laws. This regulatory gap allows platform owners to enforce opaque policies that often prioritize profit over user protection, enabling excessive data harvesting and weak penalties for violations. A robust, enforceable policy is crucial, especially to protect minors from app-based surveillance and manipulative algorithms.
“Though TikTok faces scrutiny for data risks tied to foreign ownership, similar accountability should extend to all apps, including U.S.-based platforms like Meta and Amazon, which have faced privacy abuse allegations. TikTok’s case illustrates broader cybersecurity challenges, emphasizing the need for a transparent, comprehensive framework to address the structural flaws in app ecosystems. Prioritizing security, transparency, and accountability is essential to safeguarding users.”
While incoming President Trump could save them, I am not so sure that’s going to happen. The thing is that TikTok as a company is suspect at best. And if something is suspect, you likely need to put it under the microscope at the very least, and deal with it if your worst fears are confirmed. The first part is done already, now it’s time to deal with them.
2025 Cybersecurity Predictions From LimaCharlie
Posted in Commentary with tags LimaCharlie on December 7, 2024 by itnerdHere’s some forward-looking cybersecurity predictions for 2025 from Maxime Lamothe-Brassard, Founder & CEO of LimaCharlie. These insights delve into emerging trends poised to reshape the cybersecurity landscape in the coming year.
“There’s a significant trend unfolding in the cybersecurity landscape: a shift from the ‘Wild West’ of unrestricted ecosystems to highly gated environments. This isn’t about placing value judgments on whether this is good or bad, but recognizing the reality of our increasing reliance on technology in every facet of life—even in industries like hairdressing, where digital tools are essential for billing, scheduling, and more.
Historically, open ecosystems like early Windows PCs offered immense value, allowing users to run any code without restrictions. However, as platforms like iOS, Chrome OS, and even macOS evolve, the push toward more controlled and secure environments is becoming inevitable. The aim is to move away from the chaos of unregulated systems toward manageable, scalable cybersecurity practices.
In the next decade, we may see further convergence in operating systems — imagine macOS and iOS becoming indistinguishable. While the trajectory for other platforms remains uncertain, the overall direction is clear: tighter ecosystems designed to balance security and usability.”
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