The tool, which can generate realistic videos from text prompts or images, quickly gained attention online for producing cinematic clips that resembled scenes from popular films and featured AI-generated versions of well-known actors. However, the technology also triggered a backlash from entertainment companies, which argue that the system may have been trained on copyrighted material without authorization.

ByteDance accused of copyright infringement

A while after Seedance 2.0 was released in China, it began attracting criticism from streaming firms. Viral content featuring AI-generated celebrity combatants prompted serious questions regarding the legality of the model’s data. Last month, Disney slapped ByteDance with a cease-and-desist letter, alleging that the platform illegally bundled its franchises as if they were public-domain assets.

Disney specifically called out the theft of iconic figures from its massive Marvel and Star Wars universes. At the time, Disney’s attorney David Singer, also a partner at Jenner & Block, commented, “ByteDance’s virtual smash-and-grab of Disney’s IP is willful, pervasive, and totally unacceptable. We believe this is just the tip of the iceberg, which is shocking considering Seedance has only been available for a few days.”

After Disney took legal action, Paramount Skydance also accused ByteDance’s Seedance of looting its library, including South Park, Star Trek, Dora the Explorer, and The Godfather franchises, to train its AI tools. It sent a cease-and-desist letter to the firm. Moreover, Motion Picture Association chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin had chimed in, calling for an immediate end to ByteDance’s copyright violations.

In response to the backlash in February, ByteDance said it is reinforcing its safeguards against unauthorized use of intellectual property and likeness. According to reports, ByteDance has now suspended plans to expand its platforms into other regions. Seedance had initially intended to make its tools available by mid-March. The company’s lawyers and engineers are still working to pinpoint risks and build digital “guardrails” to prevent future AI infringement.

However, despite its setback, ByteDance is still planning to increase its computing power outside China, using advanced Nvidia AI chips. It has partnered with a Southeast Asian company with intentions to acquire Nvidia’s Blackwell chips in Malaysia for AI research and development. The partner’s Tier 1 designation from Nvidia gives it priority access to cutting-edge chips, allowing ByteDance to tap into that pipeline for hardware it cannot legally purchase in its home market.

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A statement on the Vietnam Competition Commission’s website noted that TikTok lacked a mechanism to facilitate the exercise of user privacy rights regarding data used for commercial purposes, such as advertising. Apart from these claims, the statement also noted that the social media platform failed to give specific users the right to submit complaints or address issues.

Vietnam slams TikTok with $33,516 fine for breach of rules

The action from Vietnam comes amid increased enforcement of data privacy and consumer rights rules, which took effect with the country’s new Personal Data Protection Law and updated regulatory decrees in early 2026. These laws require platforms to obtain clear, informed consent from users before collecting or using personal information, including details like phone numbers and more sensitive data, such as location and online behavior.

The move also shows that Vietnam is strict about enforcing the laws governing social media platforms. Following the announcement, individuals raised concerns about TikTok’s practices. Responding to these claims, the social media platform affirmed that it has begun implementing changes in line with the authority’s proposals.

The firm declared its commitment to establishing a transparent business and shopping environment, while strictly adhering to local regulations for social media platforms and adopting a customer-centric approach. It is worth noting that TikTok is not the first company to face a severe fine. Earlier, regulators in Vietnam also imposed a fine of around 810 million dong on the VNG Group, a tech company that manages Zalo, a messaging app.

This was after the commission discovered that VNG failed to provide consumers with an option to object to the use of their personal data, particularly by businesses, or decide to what extent this information could be used, following complaints raised by users. In response to these complaints, sources stated that the commission requested complete details on Zalo’s data usage and collection policies from VNG in late December, citing a statement on the government’s website.

As of now, VNG is working together with the commission to assess and revise its policies. For TikTok, this is the second time it has found itself in trouble with Vietnamese regulators, after facing a backlash in 2023 for failing to restrict content that violated local laws. While this legal battle continues, recent reports indicate that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has finally completed a long-awaited deal to transfer significant portions of its US operations to investors based in the country.

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According to the judge, the social networking company didn’t illegally control the market because it competes with Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube and TikTok. FTC spokesperson Joe Simonson stood by the agency’s case. “Meta violated our antitrust laws when it acquired Instagram and WhatsApp,” he said. He pointed to 2020, when the agency first filed the case during the first Trump administration, saying “the staggering market power was on full display for everyone to see.”

The judge said the FTC failed to prove monopoly power

Meta spokesperson Christopher Sgro said the district court got it right and “recognizes the fierce competition we face.” He said the company would “remain focused on innovating and investing in America.” The ruling was a big loss for the FTC, which filed the lawsuit in 2020, trying to break up the company. The agency filed a notice of appeal on Tuesday and will file its full arguments later.

A senior agency official, who didn’t want to be named, told Bloomberg that the FTC thinks Boasberg looked at competition today instead of the market back when the lawsuit started. The official said that even now, Meta’s Instagram doesn’t really compete with YouTube or TikTok. In his November decision, Boasberg wrote that the FTC had a hard time defining Meta’s product market.

He claimed that it was because “apps surge and recede, chase one craze and move on from others, and add new features with each passing year.” He said the agency didn’t prove Meta holds monopoly power now. Meta Chief Legal Officer Jen Newstead was happy with the decision, saying it “recognizes that Meta faces fierce competition.” She called the company’s products beneficial and said they show American innovation and economic growth.

The FTC’s original case said Meta, which used to be called Facebook Inc., bought the two companies in 2012 and 2014 so it wouldn’t have to compete with them. The agency said these purchases strengthened Meta’s monopoly in social networking for friends and family connections. Meta argued its competitors go way beyond traditional friends and family sharing.

The company includes short-form video, commerce, and private messaging. Meta brought in people from Reddit Inc., X, TikTok, and Pinterest Inc. to talk about how their platforms compete for user time and attention, which means advertising money. Boasberg didn’t buy the FTC claim about Meta’s applications.

He wrote that the four platforms have “evolved to have nearly identical” features, and evidence “resoundingly shows” users see TikTok and YouTube as alternatives to Meta’s apps. This case is one of five major antitrust lawsuits filed by the FTC or Justice Department against the world’s biggest technology platforms. Two federal judges already ruled that Alphabet Inc.’s Google illegally monopolized online search and advertising markets.

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The group, None of Your Business (noyb), mentioned that TikTok used a third-party marketing service, allowing for the possibility of exposing sensitive user information. The allegations made by noyb further highlight the growing concerns related to how TikTok collects personal information from its users, as well as how transparently it communicates such information to its users.

Noyb details how TikTok accesses personal data

Noyb’s allegations are based on findings in a user’s request to access their personal data through authorized legal channels that revealed that TikTok is capable of monitoring and receiving detailed records relating to users’ behaviors and activity on apps such as Grindr and LinkedIn, and even on items added to a shopping cart, for instance, through e-commerce platforms.

According to noyb, much of this tracking occurs without the knowledge of users; therefore, many TikTok users are likely to be completely unaware of how extensively their data is shared with third-party services. Privacy advocates have raised significant concerns over this tracking, particularly when it comes to the tracking of activities and behaviors that are very personal and intimate.

European privacy rules provide for heightened levels of protection for all information related to individuals’ sexual orientation. Following several requests for clarification, noyb stated that TikTok’s stated reason for accessing data was to enable personalization of advertising, analysis of data for security, and so on, whereas noyb believes this is incorrect in relation to how EU law interprets the purpose for which data can be processed.

As previously stated in Cryptopolitan, Irish authorities are currently escalating investigations into major technology companies, including TikTok, regarding their user data handling practices and obligations under the European Union’s digital legislation, which can result in fines based on a company’s total revenue. The scrutiny also comes amid the €530 million fine imposed on TikTok by Irish authorities earlier this year.

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While details about the extent of the administration’s role in managing the platform remain fuzzy, its control seems to be at the heart of the deal. Nonetheless, the White House official maintained that the new agreement would guarantee data security, allowing oversight of the algorithm that curates user feeds and access to its source code.

White House on the verge of making a deal for TikTok

Since the beginning of his second term, President Donald Trump has approached governing much like an activist investor would manage a portfolio on a global scale. The administration announced in June that it had obtained a “golden share” in US Steel, ensuring that America retains influence despite the company’s takeover by Nippon Steel.

At the time, Trump mentioned that the arrangement gave Americans a 51% stake in the company, but it wasn’t immediately clear how that figure was calculated. Also, in August, the government acquired a 10% stake in Intel Corp., which had been struggling. According to the tech company, the US was issued 433.3 million shares of common stock, though it will have no role in management.

Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick had described the deal as a landmark moment for US semiconductor leadership, and Trump referred to it as a “great deal for America.” The pattern continued in September, when Pfizer reached an agreement to offer prescriptions on TrumpRx, a government-backed website, in exchange for eased tariffs.

US government plans to control TikTok

Now, for the TikTok deal, under Trump’s order, the Attorney General will receive data from the joint venture, and security partners may share it with other officials, potentially leading to significant oversight of user information. Final details are still being hammered out and will require approval from the Chinese government, which has not yet publicly endorsed the plan.

Should the proposal move forward, Trump and his administration might wield significant control over TikTok, including its moderation policies and response to law enforcement inquiries—powers that other platforms have long opposed. Trump has tried to ensure that the administration’s oversight will ensure equal rights for all users. He adds that there will be heavy-handed state control, but the process of moderation will try to be fair and transparent.

Officials say a joint venture could have independent review boards that would conduct regular audits to prevent bias and undue political influence. Despite these assurances, experts and critics remain cautious. The potential for a sitting president to influence a major social media platform is unprecedented, raising concerns about privacy, free expression, and the blurred lines between government authority and corporate operations.

Meanwhile, analysts have warned that even with oversight mechanisms, the administration’s involvement could shift the platform’s policies, potentially affecting what content is amplified or suppressed. There are also questions about international ramifications, as TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is based in China, and the deal may set a precedent for government intervention in global tech platforms.

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China’s Commerce Ministry was clear in its demands, noting that its previous stance remains unchanged. “China’s position on TikTok is clear: The Chinese government respects the wishes of the enterprise, and welcomes it to carry out commercial negotiations in accordance with market rules to reach a solution compliant with China’s laws and regulations, and strikes a balance of interests,” the ministry said.

The comments come after Trump and Jinping spoke at length on the phone on Friday. The outcome of the discussions is seen as integral, and it’s not just for the TikTok deal, but for broader trade talks. The video-sharing app has over 170 million users in the United States, with its fate linked to potential compromises in other areas such as agriculture and aviation, as the world’s top two economies seek to battle it out after their tariff standoff.

China wants the United States to match its efforts

In its statement, China mentioned that it hopes the United States will match its efforts. “It is hoped that the U.S. side will work towards the same goal as China, earnestly fulfil its corresponding commitments, and provide an open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory business environment for the continued operation of Chinese enterprises in the U.S., including TikTok,” the statement said.

Earlier in the week, officials from both countries announced that they had reached a framework agreement during meetings in Madrid. Chinese state media called the outcome a win-win situation, noting that it will keep to its promise of reviewing TikTok’s technology exports and licensing of intellectual property. The arrangement addressed one of the conditions set by United States lawmakers.

Congress has mandated that TikTok be blocked in the country by January 2025 unless the Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests its American operations. Trump pushed the deadline until December 16. When asked about what they had gained from the talks in Madrid, He Yadong, a spokesperson for the Commerce Ministry, repeated Beijing’s call for the United States to lower barriers for Chinese companies.

Americans set to assume control of TikTok

According to the White House, the new deal will give Americans the majority stake in TikTok’s US operations. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Saturday that six of the seven seats on TikTok’s board would go to American representatives, and the platform’s algorithm would also be controlled in the United States. “The final deal will be signed in the coming days,” Leavitt said.

Leavitt also noted that American appointees moving to the board would have experience in national security and cybersecurity. ByteDance, which will select the remaining board member, will not have access to the security committee. Talks in Madrid earlier in the week, led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, produced the outline of this agreement. Details have not been made public. Trump and Xi gave their approval during their call on Friday.

Under the new plan, ByteDance will keep less than 20% stake in TikTok. New investors is expected to include Oracle Corp., venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, and Silver Lake Management LLC, a private equity firm, a senior White House official said. Oracle will serve as TikTok’s security partner to make sure the app meets US standards. The official explained that data from American users will be stored in the US and kept out of reach of Chinese authorities.

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With LIVE streaming, creators can show the world real-time occurrences. In times of political tensions, it can be used to circulate different claims, call for violence, and showcase violent encounters. The suspension is expected to last for only a few days, though the date for a potential return of the feature has not been communicated. According to a spokesperson representing TikTok, the suspension was voluntary to keep the platform safe and civil.

TikTok added that it is taking preventive measures to help secure its service, noting that all harmful contents that violate community standards will be removed from the platform. Indonesia is one of TikTok’s biggest markets worldwide, with over 100 million registered accounts. The company’s bet on the country has been large, in entertainment and its popular e-commerce services.

Indonesia urges Meta and TikTok to curb misinformation

The federal government of Indonesia has urged social media firms Meta and TikTok to increase efforts in curbing harmful content, especially disinformation that spreads like wildfire on their platforms. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) mentioned that it summoned representatives from TikTok and Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, to discuss the growing circulation of fake news and misleading content.

According to officials, misinformation has increasingly flourished as more people turn to social media for news. The current TikTok LIVE suspension comes after days of violent demonstrations in Indonesia. Protests erupted after members of Parliament approved higher allowances and spurned them on perks, infuriating people already struggling under the weight of a tight economy. The anger grew more after a motorbike taxi driver was killed when hit by a police vehicle.

The incident triggered wider national unrest, with buildings being torched in Makassar, West Nusa Tenggara, Central Java, and West Java. Three deaths have been recorded in South Sulawesi after a South Sulawesi local parliament office was set on fire. Protests sprang up as well in Bali, Surabaya, and Lombok, where police fired tear gas at the crowds.

Protests in some locations have also devolved into looting rampages, stoking fears of deeper instability. Komdigi Deputy Minister Angga Raka Prabowo noted that the disinformation on social media platforms angered communities, resulting in public protests. Komdigi’s monitoring efforts indicate that TikTok and Instagram are the primary platforms where disinformation spreads widely.

The government extends its crackdown to X and YouTube

The government had pressed the platforms through the summons to strengthen content moderation and take more proactive measures. Authorities initially warned that TikTok and Meta could face suspension or heavy fines if they fail to comply. “They must comply with the rules because our goal is to protect this country. Penalties in the rules are reprimands, fines, temporary suspension, revocation of access, or even kicking them out from a list of registered electronic platforms,” said Angga.

According to a previous Reuters report, Indonesia will talk to platforms with the hopes of requiring them to remove harmful material, including disinformation, pornography, and online gambling content. Separate meetings with Meta and TikTok are scheduled soon, but Komdigi Deputy Minister Angga Raka Prabowo noted that invitations will also be extended to blogging platform X and YouTube.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto called off a state visit to China to focus on the unrest. He promised to supervise the efforts to restore order personally. TikTok did not offer a specific date for the return of LIVE. The company said it would re-evaluate when the security situation improves. Analysts say the suspension reflects the blossoming power of tech platforms in national crises. TikTok has been a place for self-expression and humor.

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The new update comes after intense backlash from the people and industries against YouTube’s initial plans to be left out of the new regulations.

The new strategy also implies that YouTube will become one of the platforms in addition to TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat that, starting next year, would need parental approval to enter by people under age 16. The censorship would supposedly come into force before the end of 2025, indicating a significant step forward in the safety reforms online in Australia.

Government Expands Scope After Pressure

This move was triggered by increasing backlash against the platform by regulators, industry competitors, and safety activists. There were so many arguments that, without the video platform, a significant loophole would be created in the proposed law. Among Australian children, YouTube is one of the most popular platforms, and in many cases, it becomes their introduction to the world of digital interaction.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant made a prior prophecy that the platform needs to be covered so that the same protections can be present in the whole online environment. Critics noted that excluding it would undermine the capacity of the policy to protect the children against dangerous web materials and internet hazards.

Policy Shift Follows Controversial Assurances

The policy changes follow fresh disclosures that the then-communications minister, Michelle Rowland, had promised Google executives that YouTube would not be part of the plan. This caused people to worry about the transparency and equality envisaged in the policy-making process.

Meta, Snap, and TikTok tech companies expressed concerns about the unequal enforcement of rules. They purported that online child protection demands standard rules that have to be applicable to every platform. The pressure they brought about helped to bring about a change of stand on the part of the government.

Enforcement Challenges and Mixed Reactions

Communications Minister Anika Wells admitted that implementing the restrictions will be difficult. She acknowledged that young users can, in some cases, try to circumvent the rules, but said platforms nonetheless needed to take reasonable precautions against minors using their sites.

The proposed law would require companies to install well-developed age verification systems and include parental agreement. Penalties can be imposed in monetary terms. Nevertheless, YouTube Kids will still be online as a safer, controlled version of YouTube that younger users can use.

It has been met with mixed reactions. Some parents and safety advocates praised the move as a means of curbing harmful exposure. Others fear severe regulations could restrict educational and creative content widely consumed by pupils.

Today, Australia is one of the nations championing the drive to enhance the digital protections of children on the internet.

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Before he imposed a steep 245% tariff on China, Trump mentioned that he was open to reducing the tariff on the Asian country if they agreed to divest the company to a United States-owned firm. Before the last extension, Trump mentioned that “maybe I’ll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done, you know because every point in tariffs is worth more money than TikTok.”

Trump administration says TikTok deal is on China’s table

According to White House Press Secretary Karolina Leavitt, “The ball is in China’s court.” In her Tuesday statement, she said that China needs to make a deal with the United States. She added, “We don’t have to make a deal with them … China wants what we have … they need our money.” Leavitt mentioned that VP JD Vance is leading the negotiations and Trump is involved in the discussions.

Vance has been working on a deal along with other advisors in the White House for months now. The deal is coming after a bipartisan law filed by Congress in 2024, which mandated ByteDance to divest the social media app or face a ban on the app in the United States. According to Semafor, White House officials are optimistic about a final deal before the latest deadline of June 19. Another person familiar with the ongoing negotiations stated that the TikTok deal with ByteDance is still on the table for China’s acceptance.

According to another spokesperson from ByteDance, the company has been negotiating a solution with the Trump administration. He said that “there are key matters to be resolved … Any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law.” Recently, Trump stated that his administration is very close to having a deal with a group of “good people.” He gave more insight saying that there are multiple investors involved in the deal.

Many companies have placed bids to acquire TikTok, including firms like Amazon, Oracle, Microsoft, and AppLovin. Investors groups led by Frank McCourt, Steven Mnuchin, Bobby Kotick, and Jesse Tinsley, with support from famous figures like MrBeast and Roblox CEO David Baszucki, have also made offers. Other interested parties include Rumble, Perplexity AI, and Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal.

On January 19, TikTok was banned in the United States. However, an executive order from Trump increased the deadline by another 90 days. He signed the second order, delaying enforcement of PAFACA or the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, and extended the TikTok ban deadline again by 75 days.

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The individuals mentioned that the parties involved in the talks are not taking the bid seriously. A person familiar with the matter also noted that the offer came through a letter addressed to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The sources mentioned that the deal could see a group of investors jump on it, noting that it is unclear if such a structure will satisfy the conditions of federal law.

Blackstone wants a stake as Amazon enters the bidding

The video application, boasting 170 million users in the US has become the go-to hub for retail advertising for firms like Amazon, with the firms using influencers to advertise their products. Despite many firms having their TikTok Shop, they still pay influencers a cut on transactions that people make after buying through their links.

Amazon also tried to make its short video feed called Inspire, which shared similarities with TikTok but was considered unsuccessful at attracting shoppers, so the company removed it from the app this year.

Blackstone is also considering joining ByteDance’s existing non-Chinese shareholders, led by Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, to contribute fresh capital to TikTok’s U.S. business. Last month, the president mentioned that his administration was in touch with four different groups about the sale of TikTok but didn’t identify them.

Amazon’s shares surged by 1.3% in a volume spike caused by the announcement. Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz also revealed discussions about investing in TikTok as part of the deal. Microsoft and Walmart also made similar bids for the video app in 2020, when it was first pressured to sell to American owners.

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