📱 TikTok Talks, Meta’s $50M Deal, Waymo Hits Tokyo
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, December 17. Today we are covering:
Trump meets with TikTok CEO as video app challenges potential ban
Facebook-parent Meta settles with Australia's privacy watchdog over Cambridge Analytica lawsuit
Waymo robotaxis are coming to Tokyo in 2025
Taiwan in talks with Amazon's Kuiper on satellite communications amid China fears
Tesla is having major issue with its self-driving computer inside new cars
Let’s dive in
Trump meets with TikTok CEO as video app challenges potential ban
By David Ingram via NBC News
TikTok CEO Shou Chew met with President-Elect Donald Trump following the company’s appeal against a court decision that could lead to a potential U.S. ban of the app.
The meeting comes as TikTok challenges legal rulings that threaten its operations in the U.S. market.
The court decision marks a critical moment for TikTok as it navigates escalating regulatory pressures under the incoming administration.
𝕏: Trump is meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago Club today, I'm told. That comes hours after the president-elect suggested he might reverse course on the impending ban on the app in the US, as TikTok is now asking the Supreme Court to step in. - Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins)
Facebook-parent Meta settles with Australia's privacy watchdog over Cambridge Analytica lawsuit
Reuters
Meta Platforms agreed to a A$50 million ($31.85 million) settlement with Australia's privacy watchdog, resolving a long-running legal battle over the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
Australia's Office of the Australian Information Commissioner alleged that personal data of 311,127 Australian Facebook users was at risk of being disclosed through Facebook's quiz app This is Your Digital Life.
The lawsuit followed earlier global regulatory actions in the U.S. and UK after the scandal was first reported by The Guardian in 2018.
𝕏: The record-breaking $50 million settlement secured by the @OAICgov from Meta for Facebook users demonstrates that the Albanese Government and our privacy regulator are serious about protecting the personal information of Australians. - Mark Dreyfus (@MarkDreyfusKCMP)
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Waymo robotaxis are coming to Tokyo in 2025
By Kirsten Korosec via TechCrunch
Waymo will begin testing its autonomous vehicle technology in Tokyo in early 2025, marking its first deployment on public roads outside the U.S.
The company will partner with Nihon Kotsu and taxi-hailing app GO, with initial mapping in key districts like Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Chiyoda using manually driven vehicles.
The announcement follows GM’s decision to scrap its Cruise robotaxi program, ending its planned Tokyo launch with Honda in 2026.
𝕏: Tokyo, here we come! 🇯🇵 ~25 of our @Waymo vehicles will arrive early next year, and we’re grateful to partner with @Nihonkotsu_Taxi and @go_goesnext. We’ll drive in manual for the first phase and we look forward to learning from the community as we explore Tokyo. - Tekedra N Mawakana (@TechTekedra)
Taiwan in talks with Amazon's Kuiper on satellite communications amid China fears
By Kathrin Hille via Financial Times
Taiwan is in talks with Amazon's Project Kuiper to enhance its satellite-based communications, aiming to strengthen internet infrastructure amid concerns about potential Chinese cyberattacks.
The move follows dissatisfaction with OneWeb’s limited capacity, despite its partnership with Chunghwa Telecom, and reflects Taiwan’s pursuit of resilient alternatives.
Starlink is not considered a viable option due to Elon Musk's business ties in China and Taiwan’s requirement for local ownership in any satellite venture.
Tesla is having major issue with its self-driving computer inside new cars
By Fred Lambert via Electrek
Tesla's HW4 self-driving computers in new vehicles are experiencing short-circuit failures, impacting safety features like cameras, GPS, and navigation.
The issue, potentially linked to low-voltage battery malfunctions, has overwhelmed Tesla's service network, with repairs delayed into next year.
Tesla has yet to issue a service bulletin or notify NHTSA, raising concerns about regulatory compliance and possible recalls.
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