Yazılar

California’s Newsom accuses TikTok of suppressing Trump criticism

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California Governor Gavin Newsom has accused TikTok of suppressing content critical of President Donald Trump, launching a review to determine whether the platform’s moderation practices violate California law. Newsom’s office said it had received and independently confirmed reports that posts criticizing Trump were being limited following recent structural changes at TikTok.

The allegations emerged shortly after TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, finalized a deal to create a majority U.S.-owned joint venture designed to secure American user data and avoid a nationwide ban. The arrangement, which was praised by Trump, places U.S. and global investors in control of more than 80% of the venture, with ByteDance retaining a minority stake.

TikTok rejected the accusations, saying the issues stemmed from a technical failure caused by a data center power outage that led to broader system disruptions. The company said the outage resulted in bugs, slower performance and delayed posting for some users, and denied any intentional suppression of political content.

The dispute adds to long-standing political tensions surrounding TikTok in the United States, where the app has faced years of scrutiny over national security, data privacy and influence concerns. Newsom, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican, have frequently clashed, underscoring the political sensitivity of the platform’s role in public discourse.

EU to make WhatsApp more responsible for tackling harmful content

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The European Commission has formally designated Meta-owned WhatsApp as a “very large online platform” under the EU’s Digital Services Act, increasing its responsibility for addressing illegal and harmful content. The designation specifically applies to WhatsApp’s channels feature, not to its core private messaging service.

According to the Commission, WhatsApp channels reached an average of 51.7 million monthly active users in the European Union during the first half of 2025, exceeding the 45 million user threshold set by the DSA. Platforms above this limit are subject to stricter obligations, including enhanced risk assessments and stronger measures to limit the spread of illegal content.

The Digital Services Act requires very large platforms to invest more heavily in content moderation systems, a process that can be costly due to the scale of data involved and that also raises concerns around user privacy. Other companies already classified under the same category include Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Google’s YouTube, TikTok, Temu and Microsoft’s LinkedIn.

Following the designation, Meta has four months to bring WhatsApp channels into full compliance with the additional DSA requirements, setting a deadline of mid-May 2026. A WhatsApp spokesperson said the company remains committed to improving safety and integrity measures as its channels continue to grow across the EU and globally.

France’s lower house backs social media ban for those under 15 years old

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France’s National Assembly has approved legislation that would ban children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, reflecting growing concern over online bullying and the impact of digital environments on young users’ mental health. The decision marks a significant step in France’s efforts to strengthen child protection in the digital sphere.

Lawmakers supporting the bill argue that social media platforms expose minors to harassment, addictive content patterns and psychological pressure at a critical stage of emotional development. The legislation seeks to tighten age verification requirements and place greater responsibility on technology companies to prevent underage access to their services.

The vote comes amid a broader European debate on regulating social media use among minors. Several governments have raised alarms over rising rates of anxiety, depression and cyberbullying linked to excessive screen time and online interaction. French officials say the measure is intended to give families and schools stronger tools to manage children’s digital habits.

The bill now moves to further legislative review before it can become law. If fully approved, the restrictions could significantly change how social media platforms operate in France and how young users engage with online content.