Hillicon Valley — State AGs take on TikTok
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State attorneys general are turning their attention to TikTok, launching their latest investigation into a tech company over its impact on kids’ safety. We’ll also look at the latest tech restrictions on Russian state-controlled media.
Let’s jump into the news.
TikTok in the hot seat
A bipartisan coalition of attorneys general are investigating TikTok’s impact on the wellbeing of children, they announced Wednesday.
The attorneys general will investigate if the popular video sharing app violated state consumer protection laws and put the public at risk.
This follows an investigation launched by the same group of attorneys general in November into Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, over the platforms’ impact on kids’ safety.
The details: The investigation into TikTok will look at harms use of the app may cause young people, and what TikTok knew about them. It will look at methods used by the app to boost young user engagement, including by increasing the duration of time present on the platform, according to an announcement released by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey (D).
What the company is saying: A TikTok spokesperson defended the safety policies the company has in place to protect teenaged users.
“We care deeply about building an experience that helps to protect and support the well-being of our community, and appreciate that the state attorneys general are focusing on the safety of younger users. We look forward to providing information on the many safety and privacy protections we have for teens,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Twitter to comply with EU sanctions
Twitter will comply with European Union sanctions on Russian state-controlled media, meaning content from such publishers will be withheld for users in EU member states, a Twitter spokesperson said Wednesday.
“The European Union (EU) sanctions will legally require us to withhold certain content in EU member states, and we intend to comply,” the spokesperson said.
Outside of the EU, the platform said it will continue to focus on “de-amplifying this type of state-affiliated media.”
“We continue to advocate for a free and open internet, particularly in times of crisis,” the spokesperson said.
HITTING PAUSE
Netflix is pausing all projects and acquisitions based in Russia as Moscow continues its invasion of Ukraine.
A Netflix spokesperson told The Hill on Wednesday that the streaming service is pausing “all future projects and acquisitions from Russia while we assess the impact of the current events.”
The company had four Russian-language series in production and post production stages, according to the spokesperson: “Anna K” and “Nothing Special,” both of which finished filming in December 2021; “ZATO,” which has since been paused; and one other untitled product that is “wrapping shooting.”
AND ROKU’S RESPONSE
Roku will join several other technology-related companies in imposing a ban on Russian state-controlled media over the nation’s invasion of Ukraine.
The streaming media company will remove Russia Today, a state-owned television network, from its Channel Store globally, a Roku spokesperson said Tuesday after already imposing the restriction in Europe on Monday.
In Russia, independent media and news organizations that have been critical of the attack on Ukraine have reportedly been removed from the air.
Welcome back
Google employees in the Bay Area and at other locations will begin to make a hybrid return to the office the week of April 4, according to a memo sent to employees.
“It’s been a long and challenging two years since the vast majority of our people started working from home,” John Casey, who serves as Google’s vice president of global benefits, said in an email to employees, according to CNBC.
“But the advances in prevention and treatment, the steady decline in cases that we continue to see, and the improved safety measures we have implemented across our Bay Area sites now mean we can officially begin the transition to the hybrid work week,” Casey added.
BITS AND PIECES
An op-ed to chew on: Live video in Ukraine delivers war weapon Putin did not see coming
Lighter click: The rarest find
Notable links from around the web:
Reinvention and Nostalgia: The Project to Remake Twitter (The New York Times / Kate Conger)
Facebook shuts down its attempt to remake original Facebook inside Facebook (The Verge / Kim Lyons)
One last thing: Amazon shutters brick & mortar
Amazon said it will close 68 of its physical bookstores and shops in the United States and United Kingdom, Reuters reported.
In a statement on Wednesday, the company said the latest store closures will vary by location, adding it will apprise its customers of the upcoming changes.
Amazon said physical retail stores are still an important way for them to reach customers, adding it is working on multiple concepts including a fashion store in Los Angeles, Calif., and cashier-less grocery stores, according to Reuters.
That’s it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hill’s technology and cybersecurity pages for the latest news and coverage. We’ll see you Thursday.
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