aOne day, a new issue arose in Apple’s App Store. This time, the company complied with the Chinese government’s orders to remove WhatsApp and Threads, two of the last meta apps available in China.
From our story:
Apple has removed two apps, both owned by Meta, which also owns Facebook, following the instructions of the Cyberspace Administration of China, which oversees internet and online content censorship in China.
“The Cyberspace Administration of China has mandated the removal of these apps from Chinese app stores due to national security concerns,” Apple stated in an email to Reuters. “We are required to comply with the laws of the countries where we operate, even if we do not agree with them.”
It’s implied that Apple disagrees with this order, considering the last part of that statement. It’s unlikely that the company is pleased to bow down to significant censorship, even if it means removing a competitor’s app.
Notably, Apple did not repeat its strategy in the European Union this time. The company did not release a 12-page report detailing the forced changes and the potential negative impact on the Apple customer experience or regulatory goals. Apple did not take a confrontational approach, nor did it express disagreement with regulators’ interpretations of the law and pledge to challenge them in court.
While it might be unrealistic to expect Apple to challenge the Chinese government in court, the contrast is evident. Apple’s response to dictatorial orders regarding the App Store is brief compared to its response to democratic trade unions’ demands.
This comparison does not favor the European Union. Advocates for digital market regulations would hesitate to equate Apple’s treatment by the Chinese Communist Party with any other government. Yet, it’s a necessary observation. Apple faces little resistance when complying with the Chinese government, which is not the scenario one would desire.
TikTok’s Time is Up
China is not the only government imposing bans. According to the Guardian:
The House passed the latest measure to sell or ban with a vote of 360-58. [TikTok] This legislation could result in the first social media platform shutdown by the U.S. government.
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill next week, with President Joe Biden indicating his intention to sign it.
While I am not a member of Congress, the bill itself appears flawed. To avoid appearing as a targeting act (a bill aimed at individuals and typically disliked in the US legal tradition), the bill avoids singling out TikTok and instead targets “managed” platforms. The determination of what constitutes an “adversary” as a national security threat is left to the president’s discretion. This broad definition grants significant power to ban entities, especially considering the vague criteria for being “controlled” by a state. The term “foreign enemy” is further defined by other laws, now including Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea.
However, these legal nuances are not the focus here. What interests me is the impact of a TikTok ban in the US. The dominance of U.S.-based platforms on the English-speaking internet is evident. Despite geographic variations in platform popularity, American influence is pervasive.
It seems improbable that TikTok will vanish entirely due to a ban. The platform’s dedicated users may find ways to continue using it, whether through workarounds, web apps, or persistence. Nevertheless, the ban may prompt less committed users to migrate to alternative platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube Shorts, which have capitalized on TikTok’s restrictions in other markets, notably India.
In the short term, the TikTok experience is bound to deteriorate for all users, regardless of their location. The removal of desired content and delays in reposting may erode the platform’s appeal. However, the long-term consequences fascinate me. Will other English-speaking nations follow the U.S.’s lead in abandoning TikTok? Or does TikTok’s culture reflect a unique global perspective that diverges from mainstream internet trends? Are there discernible differences emerging?
My prediction leans toward a resolution through negotiations, lobbying, or activism rather than a ban enforced indefinitely. Nevertheless, if all efforts fail, witnessing the outcome of this experiment will be intriguing.
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Fugitive Llama 3
AI’s second phase has begun. The scaled-down version of Facebook’s large language model, Llama 3, has been unveiled, likely for the final time this year. From our report:
The social media titan has enhanced Llama 3 with new coding capabilities, including image delivery in addition to text, although the current model only produces text, according to Chris Cox, Meta’s chief product officer, in an interview.
Further advanced features, such as long-term planning capacity, are expected in future versions. An upcoming iteration will also support “multimodality,” generating both text and images..
Llama is Facebook’s proprietary counterpart to GPT, Gemini, and Claude. Unlike these competitors, Llama is available under a relatively open license, enabling users to download the core model. If building your own AI system, particularly for local use over server reliance, is desired, Llama serves as a solid foundation.
The accidental public release of the initial Llama version was followed by an official second version. Facebook clearly benefits from this move. Developing fundamental technology driving the AI revolution could offer substantial advantages. While Llama allows for expansion, it retains certain restrictions, preventing complete replication and removal from Facebook. Importantly, without access to the original training data and method specifics, repeating the initial training run is unfeasible without significant computing resources.
However, the drawbacks are evident. Facebook profits from platform usage, not AI model training directly. This lack of direct financial incentive has hindered efforts to stay at the forefront, resulting in Llama trailing behind its competitors historically.
Nevertheless, the current landscape is different. Despite over a year of development, the free-licensed model from Facebook is now competitive with GPT4, possibly even surpassing it, with larger versions anticipated soon. Of course, progress in the industry is rapid, as evidenced by OpenAI’s anticipated GPT-5 release, expected to reshape the field once again.
Broader Tech Landscape
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35 years have passed since the Game Boy‘s release. Keza MacDonald explores the enduring impact of this iconic console that introduced gaming to millions and continues to influence the industry today.
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Elon Musk is embroiled in a dispute with the Australian government over restrictions on sharing footage of a church stabbing in Sydney. This has led to a series of mundane memes targeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
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In the Guardian US Wellness section, Madeline Ageler discusses the transformative power of disconnecting from social media.
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The legalization of sports betting in the U.S. has led to an addiction crisis, with technology playing a significant role in exacerbating the issue.
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The Internet Watch Foundation uncovered a manual on the dark web detailing the use of AI to “undress” children’s images, highlighting the challenges in combatting such illicit activities.
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Meanwhile, in the New Statesman (£), Swedish author Catherine Kieros-Marsal argues convincingly that the real issue with AI lies in its control by men.
Source: www.theguardian.com
