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  • How to stop TikTok tracking you – even when you are not on the app – Tech Digest

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    For American users, TikTok has undergone a massive transformation – and not necessarily for the better. Following years of legislative battles and a trip to the Supreme Court, a new “US version” of the app officially launched in early 2026.

    Known as TikTok USDS Joint Venture, this entity is now majority-owned by American investors, including Oracle and Silver Lake. And while this deal was designed to sever ties with Chinese parent company ByteDance to protect national security, the new terms of service have actually introduced more aggressive tracking.

    Oracle is now retraining the algorithm specifically on US data, and for the first time, the app explicitly states it can collect “precise geolocation” and integrate more deeply with external ad networks.

    However, the reality is that whether you are in the US or the UK, TikTok’s reach extends far beyond the app itself.

    Through “tracking pixels” – tiny, invisible pieces of code embedded on millions of third-party websites –  TikTok can follow you across the web, harvesting data on your health, finances, and interests even if you’ve never created an account.

    Here are seven essential tips to reclaim your privacy and stop the silent surveillance.

    1. Disconnect “Off-TikTok” Activity

    TikTok uses a feature similar to Meta’s “Off-Facebook Activity” to track what you do on other websites. To stop this, go to Settings and Privacy > Ads > Disconnect Advertisers. This prevents the app from tailoring ads based on the data it receives from third-party sites you visit.

    2. Clear Your Activity History

    Even if you disconnect future tracking, TikTok may already have a vast profile of your past browsing habits. In the same Ads menu, select Clear Activity. You can perform this every 24 hours to ensure that any data harvested via tracking pixels is regularly wiped from your advertising profile.


    3. Kill the “Tracking Pixel” at source

    TikTok’s most invasive tool is the “pixel,” which is currently installed on an estimated 5% of the world’s top websites. To block these invisible trackers, switch your browser to DuckDuckGo or Brave, or install a robust extension like uBlock Origin on Firefox. These tools identify and kill the background scripts that transmit your data to TikTok’s servers.

    4. Opt-Out of Precise Geolocation

    Under the new 2026 US terms of service, TikTok has shifted from “approximate” IP-based location to “precise” GPS tracking. To stop this, head to your phone’s system settings (not just the app settings). On iOS, go to Privacy & Security > Location Services > TikTok and set it to “Never.” On Android, use the Permission Manager to deny location access entirely.

    5. Disable “Suggest Your Account to Others”

    To minimize your digital footprint, go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Suggest your account to others. Toggle off all options, including phone numbers and Facebook friends. This prevents TikTok from creating “shadow profiles” that link your identity across different social circles and platforms.

    6. Avoid Third-Party Logins

    When signing up for new services or websites, never use the “Log in with TikTok” button. Doing so creates a permanent data bridge between that service and your TikTok profile, allowing the company to monitor your interactions and purchases on that external site with total transparency.

    7. Reset Your Advertising ID

    Your phone has a unique “Advertising ID” that act as a digital fingerprint for trackers. On Android, go to Settings > Privacy > Ads and select Delete Advertising ID. On iOS, ensure “Allow Apps to Request to Track” is toggled off in your Privacy settings. This breaks the link between your device and the profile TikTok has built.

    Conclusion

    The “Americanization” of TikTok in 2026 has proven that ownership changes don’t necessarily equate to privacy improvements. In many ways, the new US entity has become a more refined surveillance machine, legally sanctioned to mine domestic data with even greater precision.

    By following these steps, particularly blocking pixels and resetting your advertising IDs, you can significantly limit the amount of “lifestyle data” TikTok captures.


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    Chris Price

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  • TikTok finalizes a deal to form a new American entity

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    TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the United States that has been in discussion for years on the platform now used by more than 200 million Americans.The social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati investment firm MGX to form the new TikTok U.S. joint venture. The new version will operate under “defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurances for U.S. users,” the company said in a statement Thursday. American TikTok users can continue using the same app.President Donald Trump praised the deal in a Truth Social post, thanking Chinese leader Xi Jinping specifically “for working with us and, ultimately, approving the Deal.” Trump added that he hopes “that long into the future I will be remembered by those who use and love TikTok.”Adam Presser, who previously worked as TikTok’s head of operations and trust and safety, will lead the new venture as its CEO. He will work alongside a seven-member, majority-American board of directors that includes TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew.The deal ends years of uncertainty about the fate of the popular video-sharing platform in the United States. After wide bipartisan majorities in Congress passed — and President Joe Biden signed — a law that would ban TikTok in the U.S. if it did not find a new owner in the place of China’s ByteDance, the platform was set to go dark on the law’s January 2025 deadline. For a several hours, it did. But on his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep it running while his administration sought an agreement for the sale of the company.“China’s position on TikTok has been consistent and clear,” Guo Jiakun, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson in Beijing, said Friday about the TikTok deal and Trump’s Truth Social post, echoing an earlier statement from the Chinese embassy in Washington.Apart from an emphasis on data protection, with U.S. user data being stored locally in a system run by Oracle, the joint venture will also focus on TikTok’s algorithm. The content recommendation formula, which feeds users specific videos tailored to their preferences and interests, will be retrained, tested and updated on U.S. user data, the company said in its announcement.The algorithm has been a central issue in the security debate over TikTok. China previously maintained the algorithm must remain under Chinese control by law. But the U.S. regulation passed with bipartisan support said any divestment of TikTok must mean the platform cuts ties — specifically the algorithm — with ByteDance. Under the terms of this deal, ByteDance would license the algorithm to the U.S. entity for retraining.The law prohibits “any cooperation with respect to the operation of a content recommendation algorithm” between ByteDance and a new potential American ownership group, so it is unclear how ByteDance’s continued involvement in this arrangement will play out.“Who controls TikTok in the U.S. has a lot of sway over what Americans see on the app,” said Anupam Chander, a professor of law and technology at Georgetown University.Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX are the three managing investors, each holding a 15% share. Other investors include the investment firm of Michael Dell, the billionaire founder of Dell Technologies. ByteDance retains 19.9% of the joint venture.___Associated Press writers Chan Ho-him in Hong Kong and Didi Tang in Washington contributed to this report.

    TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the United States that has been in discussion for years on the platform now used by more than 200 million Americans.

    The social video platform company signed agreements with major investors including Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati investment firm MGX to form the new TikTok U.S. joint venture. The new version will operate under “defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurances for U.S. users,” the company said in a statement Thursday. American TikTok users can continue using the same app.

    President Donald Trump praised the deal in a Truth Social post, thanking Chinese leader Xi Jinping specifically “for working with us and, ultimately, approving the Deal.” Trump added that he hopes “that long into the future I will be remembered by those who use and love TikTok.”

    Adam Presser, who previously worked as TikTok’s head of operations and trust and safety, will lead the new venture as its CEO. He will work alongside a seven-member, majority-American board of directors that includes TikTok’s CEO Shou Chew.

    The deal ends years of uncertainty about the fate of the popular video-sharing platform in the United States. After wide bipartisan majorities in Congress passed — and President Joe Biden signed — a law that would ban TikTok in the U.S. if it did not find a new owner in the place of China’s ByteDance, the platform was set to go dark on the law’s January 2025 deadline. For a several hours, it did. But on his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep it running while his administration sought an agreement for the sale of the company.

    “China’s position on TikTok has been consistent and clear,” Guo Jiakun, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson in Beijing, said Friday about the TikTok deal and Trump’s Truth Social post, echoing an earlier statement from the Chinese embassy in Washington.

    Apart from an emphasis on data protection, with U.S. user data being stored locally in a system run by Oracle, the joint venture will also focus on TikTok’s algorithm. The content recommendation formula, which feeds users specific videos tailored to their preferences and interests, will be retrained, tested and updated on U.S. user data, the company said in its announcement.

    The algorithm has been a central issue in the security debate over TikTok. China previously maintained the algorithm must remain under Chinese control by law. But the U.S. regulation passed with bipartisan support said any divestment of TikTok must mean the platform cuts ties — specifically the algorithm — with ByteDance. Under the terms of this deal, ByteDance would license the algorithm to the U.S. entity for retraining.

    The law prohibits “any cooperation with respect to the operation of a content recommendation algorithm” between ByteDance and a new potential American ownership group, so it is unclear how ByteDance’s continued involvement in this arrangement will play out.

    “Who controls TikTok in the U.S. has a lot of sway over what Americans see on the app,” said Anupam Chander, a professor of law and technology at Georgetown University.

    Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX are the three managing investors, each holding a 15% share. Other investors include the investment firm of Michael Dell, the billionaire founder of Dell Technologies. ByteDance retains 19.9% of the joint venture.

    ___

    Associated Press writers Chan Ho-him in Hong Kong and Didi Tang in Washington contributed to this report.

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  • TikTok secures its future in the U.S. with agreement for new joint venture

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    TikTok has finalized a deal with Oracle and two other investors that will allow the popular social video platform to continue its business in the U.S.

    The deal, expected to close on Jan. 22, will be 50% held by a new investor consortium that includes tech giant Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX, a technology fund in the United Arab Emirates, with each holding 15%. TikTok parent ByteDance will own 19.9% of the U.S.-based joint venture, while affiliates of existing ByteDance investors will hold 30.1%, TikTok said in a memo to employees.

    “With these agreements in place, our focus must stay where it’s always been — firmly on delivering for our users, creators, businesses and the global TikTok community,” TikTok Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew wrote in his memo.

    The deal removes a shadow that was cast over the future of TikTok, which has become one of the world’s most dominant social media platforms and has a large presence in Culver City.

    The company’s business in the U.S. had been uncertain for many years amid security concerns among legislators about ByteDance’s ties to China. ByteDance had been under pressure to divest its ownership in the app’s U.S. operations or face a nationwide ban after Congress passed a law that went into effect in January.

    President Trump — who years ago led the push to ban TikTok from the U.S. — has allowed TikTok to keep operating in the country and in September signed an executive order outlining the new joint venture.

    The venture, which would oversee U.S. data protection, algorithm security, content moderation and software assurance, would be governed by a seven-member board that is majority American, Chew said in his memo. Oracle will be the security partner responsible for “auditing and validating compliance with the agreed upon National Security Terms,” Chew wrote.

    Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison and his family also are leading an effort to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.

    Oracle did not return a request for comment.

    Shares in the Texas-based cloud provider jumped on Friday following a period of investor unease over the AI market. Oracle’s share price closed Friday at $191.97, up 7%.

    Silver Lake declined to comment. The White House on Thursday referred questions about the deal back to TikTok. In September, Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had approved the deal.

    “These safeguards would protect the American people from the misuse of their data and the influence of a foreign adversary, while also allowing the millions of American viewers, creators, and businesses that rely on the TikTok application to continue using it,” Trump stated in his executive order.

    The announcement will also come as a relief to creators and businesses that rely on TikTok to entertain and reach fans and customers.

    “I hope it just stays true to the platform and the independence we get from it,” said Yasmine Sahid, who posts comedy videos on TikTok and has 2.4 million followers. “I hope we’re still able to monetize our videos the same way, because without that, I think a lot of people would leave or feel uninspired.”

    Many TikTok creators are based in Southern California, close to TikTok’s office in Culver City. Over the years when TikTok’s future appeared uncertain, some of those creators diversified, posting their content to other platforms such as YouTube and Instagram.

    “It’s a smart way to avoid ownership and data issues,” Ray Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research, said of the deal.

    If finalized, the deal would remove a persistent issue in Beijing-Washington relations and signal progress in broader talks. But it would also deprive China’s most valuable private company of total control of an American social media phenomenon.

    ByteDance’s coveted algorithms are considered central to TikTok’s business. Under the deal proposed by Washington, ByteDance will license its artificial intelligence recommendation technology to a newly created U.S. TikTok entity, which will use the algorithm to retrain a new system that is secured by Oracle, according to Bloomberg. The algorithm will be retrained on U.S. user data by the U.S. joint venture, according to TikTok.

    Some industry observers questioned whether the deal addresses the larger concerns surrounding TikTok in the law Congress passed.

    “While these executive orders positively have allowed the platform to operate and maintain the venue for speech, they do not resolve the underlying concerns about the law, which could be applied to other platforms in the future and raise questions about executive power,” Jennifer Huddleston,
    a senior fellow in tech policy at Cato Institute, said in a statement.

    “Just because TikTok remains available under such orders does not mean that the policy concerns about the underlying law have been resolved,” she wrote.

    Bloomberg contributed to this report.

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    Wendy Lee, Katerina Portela

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  • What’s Next For Interior Designer Francesca Grace

    What’s Next For Interior Designer Francesca Grace

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    Francesca Grace is a force to be reckoned with. The interior designer, stager, and reality star, who has appeared on HGTV’s Fix My Flip and Netflix’s Buying Beverly Hills is a true bon vivant, exuding genuine positive energy wherever she goes. Grace’s designs are also a breath of fresh air. While her staging work has a modern yet warm modern vibe—her Silver Lake, Los Angeles home is grand millennial perfection with a mix of patterns, pieces from different eras, and high and low. But it’s quite clear she isn’t doing for social media. Her designs are a true reflection of her personality.

    I recently spoke with Grace about what she’s been doing since her reality television debut earlier in 2022, her plans for 2023, her best tips for those inspired by her style and so much more.

    Amanda Lauren: How have you been spending your time since Fix My Flip wrapped?

    Francesca Grace: Since Fix My Flip wrapped, I have been working on large home development projects, ground-up construction, and designing my newest round of pieces that I will be launching in 2023. I finally have had the time I needed to sit down and thoughtfully curate this new collection. The question I am toying with currently is—do I allow these pieces to finally be a collection that the public can purchase, or do I keep them solely for my stagings?

    Lauren: Can you reveal anything about your next project?

    Grace: I am designing a home that will be part of 2023 Modernism Week in Palm Springs. This has been such a passion project and a dream that is finally coming true. The developer Alex Chuo and I have been working hand in hand, getting this home ready for its debut this upcoming February. He really allowed me to bring my vision to life and has trusted me fully, which as an interior designer, is my ultimate goal—to be trusted.

    Lauren: How would you describe your personal style?

    Grace: What a tough question. My personal style is constantly changing, just like the sofas in my living room. I have had over seventeen different sofas this last year—if that doesn’t say enough about my never-ending need to constantly change my environment.

    I would say that if I had to explain my style to someone who isn’t familiar with my work, it would be an [extreme mix] of different textures, earthy and rich color schemes, and a collaboration of vintage meets postmodern. I love curved shapes, embroidery, and marbles. Mixing all of this together brings me this warm and cozy feeling.

    Lauren: What is the difference between maximalist and clutter core?

    Grace: I think maximalists use different techniques together to create something beautiful that speaks [to] art. Clutter, well we all love our things…but clutter sometimes feels overwhelming and non-intentional. I think that when you want to blend eras, patterns, and colors, with a pinch of chaos, you have to do it with the intention for it to feel purposeful and something you are proud of or care to share with others. It brings life—not stress.

    Lauren: How do you approach designing a home where someone will live versus staging a property?

    Grace: I love this question [because] interior design and staging are so different. When designing a space for the purpose to be lived in, you are designing for your client. You want to cater to their needs and adapt to their style, while introducing them to new concepts and feelings.

    With staging, you are designing for the masses. You want to make the home screams “Top Dollar” and you want anyone, not just someone, to be able to envision living in it. This means staying away from the personal touches and creating a universal space.

    Do I follow all of these rules when staging? Not necessarily. Sometimes, if the house is a stale modern box, it is dying for attention and personal touch. So I usually throw out my own rules when it comes to special cases. But for the most part—universal.

    Lauren: I’ve noticed there’s been a cultural gravitation towards traditional design since the pandemic, why do you think that is?

    Grace: I think people are finally understanding how important their environment is to them. We have all been stuck at home, and we want to feel inspired, not exhausted from our spaces. They should be sacred and inviting and should relate to who we are as individuals.

    Traditional/vintage design usually creates a comforting and homey feeling. Modern designs are cold and crisp. When it comes to being surrounded by a space for a long period of time, you may want that space to feel like home, and somewhere where you can put your feet up at the end of the day and breathe. Traditional designs send the invitation.

    Lauren: What are your favorite ways to make any room feel more traditional?

    Grace: When people hear “traditional design”, they sometimes think of the space as being old and outdated. I think it really depends on how you approach the space. Blending rustic woods, imperfect shapes, a softer color palette, and whimsical patterns will help you achieve a traditional design while keeping it fresh and unpredictable.

    Lauren: Mixing patterns can be a big part of traditional design and we see a lot of this in your own home. What are your best tips for accomplishing this?

    Grace: There is definitely a fine line for clashing patterns. I tend to love to push it, usually a little past that line. The goal with mixing is that you want to find the balance within it all. If the space feels heavier in a certain pattern and minimal in another, the space will feel awkward and unbalanced. You can usually measure it out, as you would with measuring flour. Look at your space from a distance. Sometimes I even take a picture and look at it from there. See where it feels most unbalanced. Throw in another pattern if one area feels too bare. This will begin to maximize the design and create unity.

    Lauren: Where are some of your favorite places to shop for furniture and decor?

    Grace: I think traveling is my favorite form of seeking inspiration and new items. Morocco was an incredible place for handmade ceramics with unique colors and prints. Paris was great for small treasures and rustic woods. And Middle America is excellent for thrift stores with rare finds.

    If you are more of an online shopper, Etsy is my top choice. I really like to find handmade goods. They have so much more character, and you are usually not going to end up with the same item as your neighbor.

    Lauren: What are some places you like to shop that might surprise most people?

    Grace: Honestly, Facebook Marketplace. I am not going to lie, I am a die-hard fan of Facebook. The search bar is a never-ending world of rare and sometimes, strange finds. I also have an extreme addiction, so I look daily to see if anything stands out. I also love CB2. I think they do a great job at modernizing vintage designs, and postmodern elements.

    The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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    Amanda Lauren, Contributor

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