agreeing to hear, take talks, challenge to law, they could finally been, it's use in the united states. it's a case that will no doubt have far reaching consequences since it descended on america in 2018. it's been a pop culture drug and not young users engage it. for everything from news to entertainment, to sharing information. but us lawmakers say it's a security risk because the chinese oversight allows beijing to access users sensitive information. unlike local in berlin, this is the day, the law makers from those parties have come out and they said they're concerned that the chinese government could potentially pressure my dance, which is based in china to hand over us user data or compel it in some way to put information on the app, we suspect that for an actors used to take talk to interfere, you know, i have

a warm spot in my heart that, that unless the smartest stops not millions of american users who used to talk are gonna have their voice to silence we must protect our democracies from for an interview and especially when it comes to an extra also coming up. how does a post assad syria affect the world in regional power? it's that's a question that's now suddenly on the agenda at the european union's end of year son, we need to avoid that syria is the place where original conflict involving multiple countries would be um, uh, would take it would take place. so we care about serious future us, and we have to be there on the ground to of viewers on cbs and united states and all around the world. welcome. today the us

supreme court announced it is taking up the case involving one of the world's most popular social media apps, tick tock against the united states government, which is threatening to banish. the stage is set for a landmark ruling affecting tens of millions of american users. wherever the 9 justices decide it's likely to set a precedent in digital media law going forward. take talk appealed to the highest court in the land to block legislation passed earlier this year, which sets a january 19th the deadline for the apps, chinese owner bike dad's to sell it to us version. otherwise, it must be removed from us as stores an internet helps us lawmakers say take talk is a security risk because china is called municipal stories could access us users data . the supreme court is due to here the tick tock, case, just days before next month's deadline. and before donald trump returns to the white house as president again, during his 1st term trunk,

a pointed 3 of the justices strengthening and the courts. conservative majority, the president elect was once himself in favor of banning took talk, but earlier this week he signaled a change of heart. we'll take a look at that. you know, i have a warm spot in my heart to take that because i want use by 34 points. and there are those that say that tick tock has something to do with that to. to talk more about this, let's bring in and coco screw is a professor of media studies at the university of virginia, in charlottesville, among her extensive publications is the book trafficking data. how china is winning the battle for digital sovereignty. professor coke, as he joins us tonight from hawaii, and we welcome her during donald trump's 1st term as president to try to band tick tock with an executive order in 2020 saying the risk or real. now he appears to be

not so sure what changed? well we've seen a matter a mass magical shift in donald trump's perspective on tick tock. when he started to get the support of investors in by dance take talks, parent company, when he's receive the support you on, must someone who's a man who has a huge fan of massive social media deregulation. so this, this see change is and isn't really surprising. what is surprising though, is how quickly the supreme court took up this case, and it will be very interesting to see whether or not they took it out because they wanted to make sure the law was enforced before donald trump took off it. or as a way to help pay the way for, for changes in the ban in your expert opinion is tick tock, an app that can be used for spying by china. absolutely, and i think we need to actually take the chinese government's words for this.

because one of the major obstacles for the china, for the us sale of tick tock is the fact that the chinese government treats tech top ox algorithm as a national security asset. so what this ultimately means is that in order to sell tick tock, inclusive of its algorithm, the chinese government has to give export approval. so this underscore is the fact that the chinese government sees take talk as a major as a major security concern. so the us to treat it as such as well. in your latest book, you argue us data policies have helped china create infrastructures for global control, i believe is how you put it, help explain what you mean by that to the non specialist out there. so what this ultimately means is that while the u. s. has created this kind of wild west that allows for massive investment and massive growth and innovation. and we see this with the growth of us firms. what it also means is that we're in

a landscape where any kind of chinese data gathering that happens in the us with a few exceptions that come through. for example, specific executive orders or agency rules really can, can continue unabated by u. s. law. so what i argue for in the book is that it's important for the us to work with our allies and partners like like the european union to be able to establish clear road rules for how we gather data globally. you mentioned the european union, you may know that here in europe, tech talk is under investigation by the european commission after romania is presidential election was a know by a court. there are due to a large tick tock influence a few. here's what an e u. official said this week, we must protect our democracies from for an interview and especially when it comes to elections. we suspect that for an actors use take talk to interfere in the

rumanian presidential elections. this is why today the commission has decided to open the formal proceedings against tick tock under the digital services act for a suspected breach of its obligations relating to electro processes and civic discourse. professor, i know you focus on the risk from china, but what is it about tick tock and the way it operates, that would make it a potential danger to democracy? well, it's important to separate the dangers that tick tock presents as a social media app where that we see it occurring in a wide context of different social media con, in social media, through instagram, through through facebook, through other, other social media sites that are widely used by it, by agency and in particular, and other use voters. however, the key point is that within the context of tick tock, its parent company bite,

dance is subject to chinese government oversight and a way that no us based foreign. so or us based social media platforms are. mm hm. so for example, facebook, instagram, they can even operate in china, let alone face chinese government scrutiny. whereas by fans is dependent on continued existence in the chinese and the chinese market to be able to succeed as a company. well, tick tock in its appeal to the us supreme court argues americans are, quote, duly informed of the alleged risk of covert con content manipulation. and that it's a matter of free choice. would you agree? it's an informed choice for users. so i have a great story for this. i teach a class called the data ethics of tech talk and at the university of virginia. and as part of this class, i have my students read the terms of service project talk. and i've taught this class for i've taught this class maybe 6 times,

and no one in the class has ever read it terms of service ever in their life. let alone the tick tock, terms of service. so no, i don't think that consumers are adequately informed about the risks that they're facing. and you think that the owners know that i would say that there is a, a quite widespread understanding that use those in general don't through the terms of service. even if tick tock were eventually actually banned in the us, the issue of potentially sensitive online data in the hands of for an actors isn't going away. is it absolutely not. and this is part of what i, this is part of what i discussed in my book and other writings. is that because of the extremely low standard governance framework in the us? in particular, the chinese government can also purchase data from other social media apps and platforms, as well as other types of products that are operating within the us. so it's not

that tick. tock is the only source of this data. however, as, as we, as was discussed earlier, related to elections, the potential for election manipulation and, and content that voters engage with can really function as a destabilizing factor for, for important dom democratic processes. and professor and media expert in cocoa is genuinely appreciate your insights today. thank you so much. thank you so much. i of the journey to serious transition now and the dramatic fall of the assad regime isn't just a lot to absorb for people in syria itself. it's also a game changer that is sending shock waves across the wide are region. and indeed around the world, various countries back different factions inside the country and what we're often seen as proxy wars. here's a look at some of the international winners and losers. as of the dust settles

rebels from the higher perio i've shot, or h t s group taking over serious capital, damascus spring celebration in some parts of the world and silence and others. one big winner so far as turkey and it's president richard type air tawan long. a major supporter of h t s, and others. so the most of them opposition groups. turkey is also eager to resettle more than 3000000 syrian refugees that it has taken in since the civil war began. turkish companies might gain lucrative contracts and rebuilding the country. turkey also has many military positions inside syrian territory and it may move to over throw a long time. nemesis, the kurdish autonomy as administration in northeastern syria, which is repeatedly coming to attack from turkish forces. iran is a big loser in the fall of the assad regime syrian storms,

the iranian embassy in damascus. soon after the regime fell, a sign of long term grievances at the country that helped to prop up the assad regime. she around loose is one of its most important military allies in the region, billions of dollars and trade, and the land bridge linking it to has beloved, which was already weakened after months of war with israel are just about the whole more that they're just out of his duty while we gotta judge these real sees a strategic gain. prime minister benjamin netanyahu had described syria as part of the iranian access of evil, but remains cautious about what the future might bring. israel stepped up, it's military operations bombing syrian military assets. it's for administer has said that a unified syria is unlikely to hold together. russia has effectively lost an important ally, which could pave the way for the loss of strategic military bases. russia has a vital naval base and tattoos. one of its most important military assets outside

its borders. this base provides logistical support for russian warships in the mediterranean. it was the big prize put and received in exchange for military intervention in support of the assad regime in 2015 and for continuing to protect the regime in the years after all of the sony muslim countries, especially saudi arabia, the u. a. e and guitar have much to celebrate in the fall of an or rainy and ally. but they're also suspicious of h t s. and it's close ties to turkey, as well as the history of its liter. asking about al serra, who was previously associated with al qaeda. most of the statements from aero capitals that welcomed decides to parcher emphasize the importance of preserving the unity of syrian territory. the risk of serious splitting up is indeed a major and no one that could dramatically reshape the region. again, for more, i'd like to welcome email him a, let's see that fellow at the middle east institute,

who joins us now from damascus. abraham a see, let's focus 1st on the massive power vacuum left in the wake of a science full clearly an opportunity for foreign powers. and it's been said turkey's boy is to be the biggest winner. when do you agree? i agree with the statement. i think uh turkey has just get into lots inside sir. yeah, of course syria is a neighbor and country for 2 kids. so it's kind of natural if we're talking about geo politics for, to get to be interested and to be influential inside syria. however, i would like us to, to highlight that the over the last few months, the president aragon, the turkish president, tried to reach out to a side multiple times in hub or free ching, some sort of a supplement inside celia. but so if used to negotiate before all to dish forces and altered dish bags forces leads syria and that's where we are today. of course

the key has gained a lot and i think what's happened inside. so you, you have want only make 2 key very influential country inside syria and, but it will give it a much bigger leverage in the region over other countries as well. from your perspective, what stands out most to you from how countries are position currently in syria. you know, many countries repositioning themselves inside syria because many assumed that the assad would stay in power, at least for, for, for the, for the foreseeable future. we've seen different countries reaching out to us side . i spoke about turkey, but also other other countries. they low temp said back into the out, up for they gave him the seat again at the honorably get thinking that as a has a consolidated power at least in the majority of the country. but now things are

different. and then those who are in power, i forget charlotte, my mother share. many country is know little about them. they are trying to reach out, they're trying to understand them. and they've trying to also highlight some red lines about their national security, especially when it comes to, to jihad disapproved of the how it's t s my position itself regionally in the future. we've got limited time, but i do want to ask you there is h t yes, as appointed a transitional leadership that will run the country until march 1st, there's been a flurry of 4 and officials. cautiously engaging with the group in the past week, including britain, france, and germany. what would be your message to those for an officials the, you know, serious to are very cautious about that. i think the issue of power sharing is a good indicates or if the transitional government is serious about being inclusive

in the future or not. if they include other elements and be often so other components of the senior society, i think that's a good indicator. otherwise, we should be cautious because on other to tell its energy and might emerge out of all of the events of got it. that's abraham l a. c many, many thanks for your time. and particularly your perspective a european nations who are also weighing their next moves in their relations with damascus. today, a delegation from germany establish communications with the head of the rebel group that brought down assad government. officially berlin still designated to that as long as group the age to yes, as a terrorist organization. it's a dilemma faced by countries throughout europe, who also want to play a role in the new syria. how to engage with those now empower in syria is on the agenda at a meeting of european union leaders,

w's rosie berkshire report. the european union is making a diplomatic come back in syria, reopening its office in damascus after more than a decade of done grated ties. when the block vote is 0, contact with the us andres, you know, but brussel seems much more open to talking to the islamist rebel good to topple tim hi, out to re or ocean or h t s. we will intensify our direct contacts with h t. s. and other affections we care about serious future. and we have to be there on the ground. that's despite h t a still being a designated terrorist organization by the united nations. and they use own vocal criticism of the groups in the past. we take and we also condemned a systematic practice of heights diaz to unlawfully detain torture and murder civilians living in areas under their control as the ways of how supportive it

wants to be of those know, governing syria and whether to lift the broad sanctions imposed over i saw that you were violations. it's trying to make its conditions clear. what we need to do is send a strong message to those who are in for and not in syria to build a government of coalition, including all the minorities respecting the international, low international humanitarian law. somebody you members want more that come i think it's also important to look at conditionality because regarding, regarding the russian military basis in syria we, we want the russians out. we have but some experts more and this kind of ask to keep your on the sidelines. we risks to the rate of the pro, so send larry going waste, which might be actually not conducive to our interest. your appeal seemed to be realistic because you know, until a couple of weeks ago. and even now in a way,

we are not really in for ben shock turn silvia unfortunately. and there's another reason why some states may seek to swiftly secure ties in damascus. it's linked to the well over a 1000000 syrians result safety in europe over the past decade. earlier this year, a group of countries ledge by h, we push the you to soften. it's opposition to us out in a suspected stage to make it simpler to, to port syrians. from here it though that efforts failed, the block does want to reduce irregular migration finality to use those no one will be forced to return. while it's so unclear of safe serial will be. the within $200.00 people were killed when flooding devastated parts of eastern and southern spain in october. the coastal region of valencia was hit the hardest, with some areas getting a years worth of rain in just hours. residents there have been trying to put their

lives back together, but it's a huge challenge. businesses are still struggling, and many people are still angry at the local government. dw nicole reese report the devastation of deadly flux left behind a still immense overnight. the catastrophe of the 29th of october change the lives of thousands in the province of valencia. mileage he seems far away and starting over is a challenge of this metal workshop in the town of muscle. nasa is still barely accessible from the outside together with volunteers plug ins. aga has gotten rid of most of the month that covered everything. approximately 2 and a half to meet us. all of his tools and machines are now useless destroyed by sound and rust belt. he estimates the damage at 60000 yours and has now gotten 10000 years of financial aid from the national government. but you won't be able to open for another month or 2. he's afraid to lose his customers. lodge, i'm, i'm well,

joe, we get called a lot for repairs right now and i cannot fix anything. if i'm wrong, we are repairing our own things. how are we going to repair for others? it's impossible right now. i mean, let's see if they can wait a bit. that would be good. if not, it can happen. somebody that bad. yeah, nice. you know voice. thanks look slightly different, a few minutes drive away in so that we things to a donation from a spanish supermarket manager. this book just reopened a relief after long weeks in crisis mode. it means a lot to me. seen people come back in and people not crying because when the shop was closed, they came to hook us and cried. it was all crying, and now we have a bond with people that we didn't have before. the only very few shops are already open, though many people still rely on donations like here at this church where they get

the essentials that they cannot find locally. the road to recovery is tough and for some unimaginable, many year think that most of the desk could have been avoided, had the regional government, a lot of people on time medical fields father died in the floods. it took more than 10 days to find his body. volunteers dug him out of the mouth and she feels left alone to deal with the trauma. i noticed how much is the school bus the, the we are all taking pills to be able to sleep in because a nice man, a recurring every day. a con. stop to think about hall. my father suffered is the same as he was clinging to a fence without any one rescuing him. guessing the knife for her and her family will never be the same again. maybe garcia has sent a petition to spain's congress, demanding justice for the debt. tens of thousands have signed not get the

butcher shop with volunteers from all parts of the country clean and rebuild the shop. again, giving people back something as normal as grocery shopping. it seems like nothing has happened when everything is happened to you, but i'm happy because we will practically abandoned. we have nowhere to go to buy anything, nothing, not even a simple loaf of bread. suddenly nothing but a lot of other fun. after the harvest, people in the region have to endure. it's the little things that seem like miracles and they know home to think. there's a saying making the rounds here. only the people say so people finally tonight you may have noticed that it's just a week until christmas, and some people are already busy getting ready for the next big holiday. after that, in new york city organizers of america's most celebrated new years eve party or

checking their equipment ahead of the annual ball drop from times square. they've been testing the 2025 sign with a 620 l e d right before gets put up next week and helps bring in the new year, 13 days from the. so oh, that's the show for today. follow our team on social media at dw news. if it's the latest headlines you're looking for, there's always a website, dw, dot com for now from the entire team on the day. thanks for spending part of your day with us, the

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