ByteDance

Albania PM says TikTok ban was not a ‘rushed reaction to a single incident’

Albania’s prime minister defends TikTok ban, citing careful consideration and concern for youth safety.

23 Dec 2024 - 10:16AM

Albania to ban TikTok for a year after teenager stabbed to death

Parents are concerned by reports of children taking knives and other objects to school over quarrels promoted by stories on the app.

22 Dec 2024 - 6:36AM

The ‘AI Olympics’ gets new hurdles in Canada as US-China tech war plays out

Chinese researchers and companies such as ByteDance made up a greater share of the 37-year-old AI conference this year, but some could not secure visas.

21 Dec 2024 - 12:00PMvideocam

China faces AI talent shortage in otherwise booming industry, report finds

A quarter of ‘new economy’ job openings this year on the Maimai platform have been directly related to AI, as Big Tech firms fight for top talent.

21 Dec 2024 - 9:00AMvideocam

AI has emerged as a bright spot in a bleak domestic job market in China’s “new economy”. Photo: Shutterstock

E-commerce

China’s tax authority to demand online influencer, merchant revenue numbers

A newly proposed regulation would require internet platform operators to report revenue information about users.

23 Dec 2024 - 4:15PMvideocam

ByteDance intensifies China AI rivalry with 85% price cut for visual model

ByteDance’s ultra-low pricing underscores growing rivalry in the Chinese market, where Big Tech firms and start-ups have locked horns in a brutal price war.

20 Dec 2024 - 8:30AM

TikTok ban: US senators urge Biden to extend ByteDance deadline by 90 days

The app’s China-based parent company is mounting a legal challenge against a law forcing it to sell its US assets or face a ban.

20 Dec 2024 - 10:12AM

People gather on Capitol Hill in March 2023 to show their opposition to a ban on TikTok. Photo: AFP

Apple

Apple in talks with Tencent, ByteDance to launch AI in China, report says

The iPhone maker is reportedly in early talks with the tech giants to launch Apple Intelligence on the mainland after talks stalled with Baidu.

19 Dec 2024 - 8:00PM

Apple has faced challenges in launching Apple Intelligence on its iPhones in mainland China owing to the country’s strict regulation of the technology. Photo: AP

Alibaba

Alibaba splits AI team to sharpen consumer and business focus

It follows similar moves by ByteDance and Baidu, which have divided their AI research and application teams to tackle a competitive market.

19 Dec 2024 - 6:00PM

US TikTok ban: Supreme Court to review law banning Chinese-owned app

The arguments over whether the law violates freedom of speech protected by the US Constitution will be heard on January 10.

19 Dec 2024 - 5:07AMvideocam

Zhang Yiming

Fund of ByteDance’s billionaire founder gets Hong Kong asset management licence

The investment fund started by the founder of the Chinese owner of TikTok now has regulatory approval to provide services to professional investors.

18 Dec 2024 - 8:00PMvideocam

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming attends the opening ceremony of the 5th World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, on November 7, 2018. Photo: AP

China-EU relations

TikTok investigated for suspected election interference in Romania

Allegations include ‘recommender systems’ being open to manipulation and influencers not making clear they were paid to promote candidate.

17 Dec 2024 - 7:10PMvideocam

The European Commission is looking at TikTok’s policies on political advertising and paid-for content as part of its investigation related to the Romanian election. Photo: Reuters

TikTok asks US Supreme Court to halt divest-or-ban law, pending review

Highest US court is asked to review lower court’s ruling as Donald Trump praises popular video app for helping him connect with young voters.

17 Dec 2024 - 7:10AMvideocam

TikTok Shop is outperforming Shein and Sephora among US shoppers online

A new consumer trends report found that 45 per cent of surveyed Americans have bought something on TikTok.

16 Dec 2024 - 10:20AM

ByteDance to expand popular chatbot but sees AI video as higher priority

ByteDance sees AI chatbots as a slower growth opportunity and instead has prioritised AI video generators, according to local media.

15 Dec 2024 - 10:00AM

US asks court to reject TikTok’s bid to stave off law that could ban the app

The Justice Department argued that ‘continued Chinese control of the TikTok application poses a continuing threat to national security’.

13 Dec 2024 - 12:45PM

TikTok Shop opens in Spain, Ireland in e-commerce expansion as US ban looms

The Spain launch is TikTok Shop’s first foray into continental Europe, coming three years after opening in the UK, its first European market.

11 Dec 2024 - 5:03PM

TikTok pays users to shop, invite friends as US ban looms

TikTok has been working to boost users’ time spent and develop shopping habits ahead of its possible ban from US app stores on January 19.

11 Dec 2024 - 11:30AM

TikTok fighting uphill battle to reverse sell-or-ban law in US, legal experts say

On Monday, TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance filed an emergency motion to stop the US sell-or-ban law from taking effect on January 19.

10 Dec 2024 - 9:00PM

Chinese culture

China’s massive Confucius cultural project gets AI boost with ByteDance donation

Foundation gives US$3 million to Ruzang effort that aims to compile all known classics by the ancient philosopher.

10 Dec 2024 - 7:00PMvideocam

Opinion | By banning TikTok, US is shooting itself in the foot

A nationwide ban could disrupt the lives of millions who depend on the platform and jeopardise US business interests abroad.

10 Dec 2024 - 10:31AMvideocam

United States

TikTok seeks temporary halt to potential US ban pending Supreme Court review

Company and its parent, ByteDance, say the appellate ruling upholding the law is based on ‘flawed legal rationale’ the court should address.

10 Dec 2024 - 1:45AMvideocam

TikTok and its Chinese parent, ByteDance, seek a temporary halt to a ruling that could lead to a US ban on TikTok, pending a US Supreme Court review. Image: dpa

Beijing irked by AI deepfakes that ‘go against the spirit’ of ancient classics

The crackdown is Beijing’s latest effort to discipline the use of AI at a time when short video platforms are being flooded with AI-generated video.

9 Dec 2024 - 9:00PM

A screenshot from the hit Chinese video game ‘Black Myth: Wukong’. Photo: Handout

E-commerce

No Black Friday windfall for Chinese online shops selling overseas

Cut-to-the-bone pricing is eating into the profit margins of Chinese merchants selling online to global shoppers.

8 Dec 2024 - 8:56PM