Verdict on TikTok, Von der Leyen’s promises

The European Court of Justice has affirmed the European Commission's classification of ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act. This ruling comes despite ByteDance's claims of not being a dominant player in the market. The court noted TikTok's rapid growth, achieving user numbers in the European Union that are half those of established platforms like Facebook and Instagram, even in the face of competition from services like Reels and Shorts. In related developments, the UK government is moving forward with plans to establish the UK AI Safety Institute on a statutory basis, mandating the testing of powerful AI models and the sharing of test data. This initiative reflects a broader trend of increasing regulatory oversight in the tech sector, as the UK’s antitrust authority also investigates Microsoft's acquisition of an AI startup. OpenAI has introduced a new AI model, GPT-4o mini, which promises to be more cost-effective and energy-efficient. Meanwhile, Alphabet is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for approximately $23 billion, highlighting the ongoing consolidation in the tech industry. Additionally, the Italian Competition Authority is probing Google and Alphabet for potentially misleading practices regarding user consent. The European Data Protection Board has endorsed the role of Data Protection Authorities as Market Surveillance Authorities under the AI Act, while the European Commission is examining interoperability provisions within the Digital Markets Act.