MEF’s Riccardo Amati shares his take on the week’s mobile and tech stories from around the world. Headlines include… TikTok Stays—for Now: Trump Extends ByteDance Sale Deadline Again, Iran Hits Kill Switch: Nationwide Mobile Blackout Amid Israeli Cyber Attacks, Trump’s $499 Gold Phone Aims to Disrupt Mobile—If It Ships on Time and much more… Alternatively listen On MEF Radio.
TikTok Stays—for Now: Trump Extends ByteDance Sale Deadline Again
Donald Trump has extended the deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations by another 90 days, allowing the app to keep running while deal talks continue.
The move, announced Tuesday, aims to secure American user data amid ongoing US-China tensions around tech and trade.
The extension buys time for a complex sale that requires both an American buyer and Beijing’s approval, which has been stalled partly due to the broader tariff war.
Looking ahead, this delay keeps TikTok alive in the US mobile ecosystem, but uncertainty remains over ownership and data security—key issues for regulators and users alike.
The administration has considered bids involving Oracle and private equity, but challenges persist as China resists approval
Iran Hits Kill Switch: Nationwide Mobile Blackout Amid Israeli Cyber Attacks
Iran has shut down nearly all internet and phone access nationwide to block what it calls intensifying Israeli cyberattacks—paralyzing mobile networks and cutting off global contact.
With internet traffic dropping more than 90 percent, mobile users are offline and key services inaccessible, leaving families and businesses digitally stranded.
The move signals how critical mobile infrastructure has become in modern conflict—not just as a communication tool but as a battleground.
Iranian officials say the shutdown is temporary; experts warn the digital isolation could have lasting humanitarian consequences.
NBC
Trump’s $499 Gold Phone Aims to Disrupt Mobile—If It Ships on Time
The Trump Organization announced Monday is launching a new mobile phone service this August, featuring a $499 gold-colored handset—because nothing says “call me maybe” like a phone that screams bling—and a $47.45 monthly plan.
Promising 5G on all major US carriers, it aims to tap into the “all-American” tech vibe with perks like telehealth and free international calling to over 100 countries.
The move could shake up the mobile ecosystem by adding a politically charged player, forcing traditional carriers to wonder if they need to add a little extra gold to their own offerings.
But “Tump tower, we have a problem”: the golden smartphone won’t be ready by August, analysts say.
Elon’s X Goes Full Fintech With Visa Deal and Digital Wallet
Elon Musk’s social platform X is making a bold push into financial services.
CEO Linda Yaccarino says users will soon be able to invest, trade, and make payments directly on the app — including peer-to-peer transactions and tipping creators.
The platform is also planning to launch an X-branded credit or debit card and a digital wallet service called X Money, in partnership with Visa.
But the move into fintech could bring regulatory hurdles — and comes as X struggles to win back advertisers amid ongoing concerns over content moderation and brand safety.
Irish Times
EU Targets X With Possible First DSA Fine—Global Revenues in the Crosshairs
Meanwhile, the European Union is intensifying scrutiny on Elon Musk’s $33 billion acquisition of social media platform X, as regulators prepare to possibly issue the first penalty under the Digital Services Act.
The European Commission said changes in X’s corporate structure—following its takeover by Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI—are being closely monitored since fines are tied to global revenue.
The commission is also considering whether Musk’s other private companies like SpaceX and Neuralink factor into the potential fine.
X recently added disclaimers to its blue checkmark program to address EU concerns over misleading verification.
This investigation highlights growing regulatory pressure on global digital platforms impacting the mobile social media ecosystem.
Reuters
Australia Nears Global First: Social Media Ban for Under-16s Clears Tech Hurdle
Australia is moving closer to enforcing a world-first social media ban for users under 16 after a government-backed trial confirmed that age verification technology is both possible and practical.
Tony Allen, project director of the trial, said there are no major technological barriers to stopping underage accounts using methods like facial scans and behavioral analysis.
The new law will require platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and X to verify users’ ages or face penalties up to 50 million Australian dollars.
Over 50 companies, including Apple and Google, participated in the trial, highlighting a growing global push to protect children in the digital mobile ecosystem.
The ban is expected to come into force by the end of this year and could set a precedent for other countries.
Digital Warfare Escalates as Iran Hacks Israeli IoT Cameras for Military Intel
Iran is hijacking private home security cameras across Israel to gather real-time battlefield intelligence—a chilling new front in digital warfare.
Cyber experts confirm that Israeli-connected cameras, many with weak or default passwords, are being exploited to track missile strikes, troop positions, and civilian movement.
This tactic echoes past operations by Hamas and Russia, showing how common surveillance gear can become military tools.
Authorities urge Israelis to disconnect vulnerable cameras or secure them, warning that even basic home setups could be used to calibrate future attacks.
As mobile-linked devices proliferate, so do the risks they carry in modern conflicts.
Israel National News
SpaceX’s Starship Explodes in Texas Test, But Mars Mission Pushes On
SpaceX’s latest Starship spacecraft exploded during a ground test in Texas, marking another setback for Elon Musk’s ambitious plans to send humans to Mars.
The explosion, caused by a suspected failure in a pressurized tank on the nose cone, occurred during a static fire test late Wednesday, but no injuries were reported.
SpaceX is racing to ready Starship for NASA’s moon mission in 2027 and a Mars launch possibly next year, with the goal of creating a fully reusable rocket to revolutionize space travel.
Despite recent test failures, Musk remains focused on advancing this technology that could ultimately expand mobile communications and data services beyond Earth’s orbit.
Eutelsat Raises €1.35B Backed by France to Take on Starlink and Boost Europe’s Satellite Future
Eutelsat announced Thursday it is raising €1.35 billion to challenge Elon Musk’s Starlink, with major backing from the French government.
Paris is investing €717 million—more than doubling its stake to nearly 30%—as part of a push for European digital sovereignty.
The funds will help Eutelsat expand its OneWeb low-Earth orbit satellite network and join the EU’s upcoming Iris2 constellation project.
But the company still needs €4 billion by 2032 to stay competitive.
A new €1 billion deal with the French military could signal more public contracts to come, as Europe works to build its own satellite internet future.
BBC Threatens Legal Action Against US AI Firm Perplexity Over Content Scraping Allegations
The BBC is threatening legal action against U.S. AI start-up Perplexity, accusing it of illegally scraping and reproducing BBC content to train its AI tools.
In a letter to Perplexity’s CEO, the broadcaster demands the deletion of copied material and financial compensation. Perplexity has hit back, calling the claims “manipulative” and denying it trains foundational models.
The dispute highlights growing tensions as AI firms tap news sources without permission.
The BBC says reputational harm and copyright violations are at stake — as it weighs future licensing deals with tech giants.
Oxford Study Reveals UK Uber Drivers’ Earnings Slashed by New Dynamic Pricing Algorithm
A new study from Oxford University reveals Uber drivers in the UK are earning less per hour since the company introduced a “dynamic pricing” algorithm in 2023.
While passenger fares have risen, Uber’s share of each fare—its so-called “take rate”—has climbed from 25% to nearly 29%, and in some cases, over 50%.
The research, based on 1.5 million trips, found drivers’ real earnings are stagnant or down, despite promises of flexibility and transparency.
Critics say the secretive system exploits drivers, while Uber insists it guarantees at least the national living wage.
