#### Strategic Moves in Social Media
**Point 1**: Instagram introduced a new video-editing app called Edits, resembling CapCut, targeting creators with tools to edit and save videos for multiple platforms, not just Instagram. [nytimes.com, wral.com]  
**Point 2**: This launch comes as TikTok faces potential bans due to national security concerns, with Edits positioning Instagram to capture TikTok's user base and influence. [nytimes.com, wral.com]

#### TikTok's Temporary Reprieve and Industry Impact
**Point 1**: TikTok briefly went offline before President-elect Donald Trump's intervention, which raised questions about the future of its sister apps like CapCut. [newsweek.com]  
**Point 2**: Despite the uncertainty, TikTok's return and the attention on its potential ban have spotlighted the competitive landscape, with Instagram's Edits aiming to capitalize on TikTok's challenges. [nytimes.com, wral.com, newsweek.com]

Instagram Launches Edits Amid TikTok Uncertainty

#### Strengthened Commitments
**Point 1**: The EU integrated a revised Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online into the Digital Services Act (DSA), aiming for more effective policing of online content by tech giants. [ibtimes.com, courthousenews.com, theglobeandmail.com, euronews.com]
**Point 2**: Signatories, including X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, pledge to review at least two thirds of flagged content within 24 hours and engage with transparency commitments to reduce hate speech prevalence. [ibtimes.com, courthousenews.com, theglobeandmail.com, euronews.com]

#### Compliance and Monitoring
**Point 1**: The revised code mandates the involvement of not-for-profit or public entities to monitor how platforms handle hate speech notices, ensuring a more accountable and transparent process. [theglobeandmail.com, euronews.com]
**Point 2**: Platforms must provide country-level data on the organic and algorithmic reach of illegal content, with annual audits to assess compliance, highlighting the EU's commitment to enforcing the DSA. [theglobeandmail.com, euronews.com]

EU Enhances Code of Conduct to Combat Online Hate Speech Amid Tech Giants' Compliance

#### Feature Overview
**Point 1**: Edits, Meta's forthcoming video editing app, promises a comprehensive suite of tools including a high-quality camera, inspiration tabs, and advanced editing features like green screens and video overlays. [theverge.com, bgr.com, mashable.com, techcrunch.com]
**Point 2**: Unique to Edits are its live insights dashboard and detailed engagement metrics, aiming to enhance creators' understanding of their content's performance. [theverge.com, bgr.com, mashable.com]

#### Strategic Context
**Point 1**: The launch of Edits coincides with the removal of CapCut from U.S. app stores, positioning Meta to capitalize on the gap with a tool tailored for serious content creators. [bgr.com, mashable.com, techcrunch.com]
**Point 2**: Despite similarities to CapCut, Meta claims Edits will offer a broader range of creative tools, targeting a niche audience of passionate video makers. [theverge.com, mashable.com]

Meta Launches Edits: A New Contender in Video Editing Apps

#### Operational Halt and Investigations
**Point 1**: Amazon temporarily halted drone delivery services in Texas and Arizona following crashes involving its MK30 models in Oregon, attributed to software malfunctions in rainy weather. [nypost.com, techcrunch.com, san.com]
**Point 2**: Both the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating the December and a previously unreported September crash, where two drones collided due to operator error. [nypost.com]

#### Program Challenges and Future Plans
**Point 1**: This suspension marks another setback for Amazon's Prime Air program, which has faced delays and safety concerns over the years, including crashes and regulatory hurdles. [nypost.com, techcrunch.com]
**Point 2**: Despite these challenges, Amazon remains committed to its drone delivery vision, aiming to expand internationally and resume operations pending FAA approval of software updates. [nypost.com, techcrunch.com, san.com]

Amazon Pauses Drone Delivery Operations Amid Safety Concerns

#### Sanctions Against Key Players
**Point 1**: The US Treasury, through OFAC, sanctioned Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology and Yin Kecheng for their roles in significant cyberattacks, including the largest telecoms hack in US history by Salt Typhoon. [techcrunch.com, bleepingcomputer.com, techradar.com, upi.com]
**Point 2**: These sanctions, part of a broader effort to combat cyber threats, freeze all property and financial assets in the US and prohibit transactions with the sanctioned entities without explicit authorization. [bleepingcomputer.com, upi.com]

#### The Cyberattacks and Their Implications
**Point 1**: Salt Typhoon, linked to the Chinese state, infiltrated US telecoms and internet providers, targeting high-profile communications and potentially accessing sensitive data. [techcrunch.com, bleepingcomputer.com, techradar.com]
**Point 2**: The US Treasury was also targeted, with hackers exploiting a vulnerability in BeyondTrust to gain access, highlighting the broad scope of these cyber threats. [techcrunch.com, bleepingcomputer.com, techradar.com]

US Sanctions Target Chinese Cybersecurity Firm and Hacker Linked to Major Cyberattacks

#### Policy Direction
**Point 1**: Trump's national security adviser pick, Mike Waltz, indicated the president-elect's interest in preserving TikTok, mentioning potential executive orders to suspend a federal law that could lead to a nationwide ban. [time.com, denverpost.com, bostonglobe.com]
**Point 2**: The Supreme Court's recent oral arguments suggest a likely upholding of the law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok on national security grounds, adding urgency to the Trump's exploration of options. [time.com, denverpost.com, bostonglobe.com]

#### Political Context
**Point 1**: Trump, having reversed his stance from attempting a ban in his first term, now supports TikTok, crediting it with connecting his campaign to younger voters and pledging to "save TikTok". [time.com, denverpost.com, bostonglobe.com]
**Point 2**: Pam Bondi, Trump's attorney general pick, avoided committing to upholding a TikTok ban during a Senate hearing, reflecting the administration's tentative stance on the issue. [time.com, denverpost.com, bostonglobe.com]

Trump Administration Explores TikTok Preservation Strategies

#### Copyright Infringement Claims
**Point 1**: A coalition of newspapers, including The New York Times and the New York Daily News, accuses OpenAI and Microsoft of illegally using their copyrighted content to train AI models like ChatGPT and Copilot, without permission or compensation. [bostonherald.com, nydailynews.com, courthousenews.com]
**Point 2**: OpenAI and Microsoft argue their use of copyrighted material falls under the fair use doctrine, claiming their AI products promote human flourishing and do not harm the market for the original works. [bostonherald.com, nydailynews.com]

#### Legal Defenses and Arguments
**Point 1**: The tech companies filed motions to dismiss some claims, citing reasons such as the newspapers' failure to provide specific examples of infringement and arguments related to the statute of limitations. [bostonherald.com, nydailynews.com, courthousenews.com]
**Point 2**: During court proceedings, OpenAI's attorney emphasized that the AI models are not designed to regurgitate news articles verbatim, and any copyright infringement would require deliberate user prompting. [courthousenews.com]

Legal Battle Over AI Training Data Escalates in Manhattan Court

#### Potential TikTok Ban and User Response
**Point 1**: The Supreme Court's decision to uphold a law potentially banning TikTok in the U.S. has led to a surge in users seeking alternative platforms, with Xiaohongshu (RedNote) and Lemon8 gaining popularity. [pennlive.com, baltimoresun.com, dallasnews.com, abcnews.go.com, wtop.com]
**Point 2**: Xiaohongshu, known for its e-commerce and short-form videos, topped the U.S. App Store downloads, while Lemon8, a ByteDance-owned app, has seen a corporate push to attract TikTok users despite its uncertain future due to the divest-or-ban requirement. [pennlive.com, baltimoresun.com, dallasnews.com, abcnews.go.com, wtop.com]

#### Competitors' Stance and User Migration
**Point 1**: Meta's Instagram, with its Reels feature, is considered a potential destination for TikTok users, though some experts doubt its ability to attract the youngest users who may prefer platforms not associated with their millennial parents. [pennlive.com, baltimoresun.com, dallasnews.com, abcnews.go.com, wtop.com]
**Point 2**: Despite the allure of competing platforms, concerns over the future of ByteDance-owned apps like Lemon8 underline the broader uncertainty facing U.S. users in finding a viable TikTok alternative. [pennlive.com, baltimoresun.com, dallasnews.com, abcnews.go.com, wtop.com]

Supreme Court Decision on TikTok Sparks User Migration to Alternatives

#### Attack Details
**Point 1**: Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect in the New Orleans truck attack, had scouted the French Quarter twice and recorded video with Meta smart glasses before the incident, according to the FBI. [abc7news.com, 6abc.com, detroitnews.com]
**Point 2**: The attack on New Year's Day resulted in 14 fatalities, with Jabbar having planned the assault by visiting the area and using the glasses for reconnaissance purposes. [abc7news.com, 6abc.com, detroitnews.com]

#### Technology and Implications
**Point 1**: Meta glasses, which can record video and livestream, were used by Jabbar during his pre-attack surveillance but not during the actual attack. The device lacks a display but has features like audio/video calling and text translation. [abc7news.com, 6abc.com, detroitnews.com]
**Point 2**: Despite their advanced capabilities, Meta glasses include privacy indicators and cannot perform certain tasks like booking reservations or providing turn-by-turn directions, highlighting potential limitations and ethical considerations of such technology. [abc7news.com, 6abc.com, detroitnews.com]

New Orleans Truck Attack: Investigative Insights and Technology Overview

#### Innovation in Animal Research
**Point 1**: Cornell University scientists developed MouseGoggles, tiny VR headsets for mice, using off-the-shelf components like smartwatch displays and lenses, aiming to enhance studies on brain functions and behaviors. [sciencealert.com, boingboing.net, news.sky.com]
**Point 2**: This new VR setup, more immersive than previous methods, allows mice to react more strongly to stimuli, providing a better understanding of spatial navigation and memory, crucial for researching diseases like Alzheimer's. [sciencealert.com, news.sky.com]

#### Advancements and Future Directions
**Point 1**: MouseGoggles, powered by a single Raspberry Pi and the Godot game engine, offer a cost-effective and highly immersive alternative to large, clunky projector screens used in past experiments. [boingboing.net, news.sky.com]
**Point 2**: The researchers plan to develop wearable VR for other animals and integrate more sensory experiences, aiming to study complex behaviors and neurological responses in a more naturalistic setting. [sciencealert.com]

Cornell University's MouseGoggles Revolutionize VR in Animal Research

#### Endorsements and Donations
**Point 1**: Silicon Valley's elite, once critical of Donald Trump, have now embraced him, citing economic and regulatory reasons. Elon Musk, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, and David Sacks are among those pledging significant support for Trump's 2024 campaign. [vanityfair.com, nymag.com]
**Point 2**: Trump’s stance on cryptocurrency and his proposed tax policies have garnered endorsements from tech moguls like Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, who fear Biden's policies could adversely affect venture capital and startups. [vanityfair.com]

#### Political Alignments and Influences
**Point 1**: JD Vance, a venture capitalist with ties to Silicon Valley, was announced as Trump's 2024 running mate, signaling a deeper alignment between tech elites and the Republican Party. [nymag.com]
**Point 2**: Despite previous criticisms, the Biden administration's actions against Big Tech and its regulatory approach have shifted some tech leaders' support towards Trump, who has expressed flexibility on tech policies. [slate.com]

Silicon Valley's Shift: Tech Titans Rally Behind Trump for 2024

#### Investigation Details
**Point 1**: The NHTSA is upgrading its investigation into 129,222 Ford vehicles equipped with BlueCruise, focusing on two fatal crashes involving the Mustang Mach-E. This step follows initial probes into the system's limitations. [courier-journal.com, oann.com, techcrunch.com]
**Point 2**: BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free driving technology, uses a camera-based driver monitoring system and operates on 97% of U.S. and Canadian highways. The agency aims to assess the system's ability to detect stationary vehicles at highway speeds, especially at night. [courier-journal.com, oann.com, techcrunch.com]

#### Advanced Analysis and Reactions
**Point 1**: The engineering analysis will involve deeper investigations, including vehicle evaluations and technical information reviews, to understand BlueCruise's performance limitations, particularly in poor visibility conditions. [techcrunch.com]
**Point 2**: Ford has not yet commented on the NHTSA's escalation of the probe. The BlueCruise system, introduced in 2021, is part of Ford's efforts to compete with other hands-free driving technologies in the market. [courier-journal.com, oann.com, techcrunch.com]

Tech

JAN. 21, 2025

Instagram Launches Edits Amid TikTok Uncertainty

Instagram introduced a new video-editing app called Edits, resembling CapCut, targeting creators with tools to edit and save videos for multiple platforms, not just Instagram...

Updated 51 minutes ago

Instagram Launches Edits Amid TikTok Uncertainty

Instagram introduced a new video-editing app called Edits, resembling CapCut, targeting creators with tools to edit and save videos for multiple platforms, not just Instagram...

EU Enhances Code of Conduct to Combat Online Hate Speech Amid Tech Giants' Compliance

The EU integrated a revised Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online into the Digital Services Act (DSA), aiming for more effective policing of online content by tech giants...

Updated 7 hours ago

EU Enhances Code of Conduct to Combat Online Hate Speech Amid Tech Giants' Compliance

The EU integrated a revised Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online into the Digital Services Act (DSA), aiming for more effective policing of online content by tech giants...

Meta Launches Edits: A New Contender in Video Editing Apps

Edits, Meta's forthcoming video editing app, promises a comprehensive suite of tools including a high-quality camera, inspiration tabs, and advanced editing features like green screens and video overlays...

Updated 9 hours ago

Meta Launches Edits: A New Contender in Video Editing Apps

Edits, Meta's forthcoming video editing app, promises a comprehensive suite of tools including a high-quality camera, inspiration tabs, and advanced editing features like green screens and video overlays...

Amazon Pauses Drone Delivery Operations Amid Safety Concerns

US Sanctions Target Chinese Cybersecurity Firm and Hacker Linked to Major Cyberattacks

Trump Administration Explores TikTok Preservation Strategies

Legal Battle Over AI Training Data Escalates in Manhattan Court

Supreme Court Decision on TikTok Sparks User Migration to Alternatives

New Orleans Truck Attack: Investigative Insights and Technology Overview

Cornell University's MouseGoggles Revolutionize VR in Animal Research

Silicon Valley's Shift: Tech Titans Rally Behind Trump for 2024

NHTSA Upgrades Probe into Ford BlueCruise After Fatal Crashes