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India Criticises X for Labeling Compliance Website a “Censorship Tool”

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India has sharply criticized Elon Musk’s X for referring to an official government website as a “censorship portal.” The site is intended to help tech companies quickly address harmful online content. This dispute escalates tensions between X and the Indian government, particularly as Musk prepares to expand his ventures, Starlink and Tesla, in the country.

The controversy began after X filed a lawsuit in March 2025, challenging the Indian government’s initiative. India’s Ministry of Information Technology responded by calling the use of the “censorship” terminology “unfortunate and condemnable.” The ministry further argued that the concerns raised by X were groundless, stating that the website’s purpose was to notify companies about their due diligence obligations, not to issue content-blocking orders.

X, however, claims that the website allows government officials to easily remove content and that India’s new system unlawfully broadens censorship powers. The conflict highlights growing tensions over content regulation as tech companies navigate varying international laws.

Albania Implements Year-Long Ban on TikTok Over Youth Violence Concerns

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Albania has begun blocking access to TikTok, a move that took effect on Thursday, amid growing concerns that the popular app is contributing to youth violence, both inside and outside of schools. This decision follows the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy, who was fatally stabbed by a fellow student after an argument fueled by social media, which prompted the government to take action.

Albania’s ban is part of a wider trend, as at least 20 countries have imposed partial or complete bans on TikTok due to concerns about the content shared on the platform and its ties to ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns the app, amid broader security and privacy concerns.

Many Albanian users have reported issues accessing TikTok, particularly via web browsers. One user, Ermal Hoxha, 28, from Tirana, noted, “I can see that TikTok is no longer accessible on the web but the app is still working, for now.” Similar reports have surfaced, with the Albanian government confirming that the ban will soon extend to the app itself. Albania’s National Authority for Cybersecurity (AKSK) has instructed internet providers to ensure that TikTok is fully turned off by Thursday.

The decision to ban TikTok came after a December 2024 incident in which a teenager was killed following online arguments that allegedly involved videos posted on social media. TikTok responded by requesting clarification from the Albanian government, citing their investigation, which indicated that the videos leading to the tragic event had been posted on another platform.

However, Isa Myzyraj, head of the Association of Journalists in Albania (AJA), criticized the move, calling it a violation of freedom of expression and likening it to censorship. He expressed concerns that this could set a dangerous precedent, leading to the potential shutdown of other social networks or even a complete internet ban. The AJA plans to take the case to Albania’s Constitutional Court.

Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, have accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of using the TikTok ban to silence dissent and criticisms, especially as the government has been accused of consolidating control over mainstream media. Rama, however, defended the decision, claiming that TikTok often showcased harmful content outside of China, describing it as featuring “only scum and scoundrels.”

A protest has been called by the Democratic Party in Tirana for Saturday, to oppose the government’s decision and to stand against the ban.

South Korea’s Spy Agency Raises Concerns Over DeepSeek’s Data Practices

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South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has raised alarms about the Chinese AI application DeepSeek, accusing it of “excessively” collecting personal data. The NIS claims that the app uses all user input to train itself and has questioned how it handles sensitive national issues, such as the origin of kimchi.

The NIS issued an official notice last week to government agencies, urging them to take extra security precautions due to concerns over DeepSeek’s data collection practices. According to the spy agency, unlike other AI services, DeepSeek records chat histories and captures keyboard input patterns that can identify individuals. It also communicates with Chinese servers, such as volceapplog.com, which raises privacy concerns.

Several South Korean government ministries have already blocked access to DeepSeek, following the lead of Australia and Taiwan, which have also placed restrictions or issued warnings about the app. The NIS also alleged that DeepSeek provides advertisers with unrestricted access to user data and stores South Korean users’ information on servers in China. Under Chinese law, the Chinese government could request access to this data.

The app has also been criticized for providing conflicting responses to sensitive questions based on the language in which they are asked. For instance, when asked about the origin of kimchi, DeepSeek claimed the dish was Korean when the question was posed in Korean, but said it originated in China when asked in Chinese. This issue has been a source of tension between South Korea and China in recent years.

DeepSeek has also faced accusations of censoring politically sensitive topics, such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. In response to questions about this, the app allegedly suggests users “Let’s talk about something else.”

DeepSeek did not respond to requests for comment. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, when asked about South Korea’s actions, emphasized China’s commitment to data privacy and security, stating that the Chinese government ensures data protection in accordance with the law.