Author: TechBrunch

Tiktok, owned by Chinese company Bytedance, has been at the heart of US controversy for four years due to concerns about user data that the Chinese government may access. Earlier this year, the app experienced a temporary suspension in the US, leaving millions of users suspense before it was quickly restored. Tiktok returned to the App Store and Google Play Store in February. Nevertheless, Tiktok's future remains uncertain, with a potential second ban on April 5th looming. Many investors are competing for opportunities to buy apps, and if a transaction occurs, the platform's US business could rise to over $60…

According to a new report from The New York Times, Amazon has submitted a bid to get all of Tiktok. Last-minute bids come as Tiktok faces the April 5 deadline to drop China's ownership or face a ban in the US, but according to a Times report, it appears that the parties involved in the contract consultations are not taking Amazon's bids seriously. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with officials to discuss the fate of the app on Wednesday. Earlier this week, Trump said that contracts with the ordinance by Tiktok's parent company to sell the app will…

Also known as the open social web, which includes Mastodon, Meta threads, Pixelfed and other apps, Fediverse has added security. On Wednesday, the nonprofit organization announced the launch of a new security fund that pays people responsible for revealing security vulnerabilities that affect the Fediverse app and services. All software has security issues, but Mastodon (open source and decentralized X alternative) has fixed a number of bugs over the years, leading to the need for such programs. Another issue found in Fediverse is that many servers do not necessarily have a security background or are run by independent operators who…

Patreon, a subscription platform for online creators, announced Wednesday that GE has signed a podcasting partnership between Sony Music Entertainment and Amazon's Windery. Patreon says the partnership is designed to be the home of fan engagement and exclusive perks for major podcast network shows, as it seeks to expand beyond the current podcast base. This deal means Patreon will offer some of the big names in the podcasting industry on its platform. By adding bigger partners, Patreon stands out among other platforms that also support podcasts. When it comes to Sony and Windery, the partnership allows us to bring content…

The Washington Post reported that it used Gmail to cite documents and three unnamed government officials, including Michael Security Advisor, the top national security advisor, Michael Security Advisor. The report follows last week's news, with Cabinet-level officials, including the Secretary of Defense, discussing a highly sensitive war plan in a signal group chat that mistakenly includes the Atlantic editor-in-chief. According to the Washington Post, Waltz's aides used the consumer version of Gmail, which has not been cleared for government use, to discuss “very technical conversations with colleagues from other government agencies, including sensitive military positions and powerful weapons systems associated…

The Washington Post used Gmail to cite documents and three unnamed government officials, including Michael Security Advisor, the top national security advisor, Michael Security Advisor. The report follows last week's news, with Cabinet-level officials, including the Secretary of Defense, discussing a highly sensitive war plan in a signal group chat that mistakenly includes the Atlantic editor-in-chief. According to the Washington Post, Waltz's aides used the consumer version of Gmail, which has not been cleared for government use, to discuss “very technical conversations with colleagues from other government agencies, including sensitive military positions and powerful weapons systems associated with ongoing conflicts.”…

According to the Financial Times, Venture Capital Firm is in discussions to invest in Tiktok as part of a bid led by Oracle and other American investors. Tiktok is expected to be banned again in the US on April 5, unless the Chinese-based owner sells its US branch to non-Chinese owners. According to Fort, the Oracle trade is said to be one of the front runners. Andreessen Horowitz has a long history of investing in social media. An early investor in Facebook and Instagram, he invested $400 million to help Elon Musk acquire Twitter. The company did not immediately respond…

Zelle shut down its standalone app on Tuesday, according to a company blog post. This news can be surprising if you're one of more than 150 million customers in the US who use Zel to pay from individuals. However, the company has abandoned its standalone apps as it only covers around 2% of transactions that take place through Zelle's app. Most consumers access Zelle through banks. This allows you to send money to your phone contacts. Zelle users who rely on standalone apps will need to re-register the service through another financial institution. Given the small user base of the…

Skylight, a startup with Tiktok with a more open alternative, is making its mobile app available to the public on Tuesday after just 10 weeks of active development. The app, supported by Mark Cuba and others, has become one of many people building on top of the AT protocol. This is the same technology that underpins the social network BlueSky and many other apps. Developed by co-founders Tori White (CEO) and Reed Hermeyer (CTO), Skylight offers a short-form video app experience with many familiar features including an in-app video editor. The ability to comment, resemble, and share videos. Set up…

Tiktok closed its Instagram competitor, Tiktok Notes, on May 8th. Last year, photo sharing apps were launched that were tested in Canada, Australia and Vietnam. The company has notified users of their decision to discontinue the app, and notified them that they are directing them to Lemon8, owned bytedance. This is not surprising given that the app is very similar and offers the same kind of functionality. A Tiktok spokesperson looks forward to continuing to bring feedback to Lemon8 from Tiktok notes to Lemon8 to complement and enhance the Tiktok experience. Tiktok did not provide a specific reason to shut…