Friday: TikTok confirms investor deal, key delay reveals North Korean

Major legal and corporate developments have unfolded this week in both Europe and the US. Meta Platforms faced a landmark ruling in Austria over data misuse, while TikTok struck a deal to avoid a US ban. Meanwhile, investigations revealed North Korean IT workers secretly infiltrating Western firms under false identities.

In Austria, the Supreme Court ruled that Meta Platforms had operated illegally within the European Economic Area. The decision found the company collected excessive user data and served overly personalised ads without proper transparency. The court also banned Facebook from targeting users with tailored advertising or harvesting their data from third-party sites. Legal experts expect this ruling to spark further lawsuits and shape future decisions in Germany’s Federal Court of Justice.

Across the Atlantic, TikTok agreed to sell a majority stake in its US subsidiary to avoid a nationwide ban. The deal involves Oracle, investment firms Silver Lake and MGX, and existing international TikTok investors, who will hold about one-third of the shares. Current owner Bytedance will retain roughly 20% of the new US company. All parties must comply with US laws regarding TikTok’s data and algorithm.

Separately, investigations exposed North Korean IT specialists posing as foreign workers to secure jobs at Western companies. These operatives generated revenue for the regime and, in some cases, gathered intelligence. One such worker was uncovered at Amazon.com after security software flagged an unusual delay in keystroke timing.

The Austrian court’s decision sets strict limits on Meta’s data practices, with broader implications for digital advertising in Europe. TikTok’s restructuring aims to keep the app operational in the US while addressing national security concerns. Meanwhile, the exposure of North Korean operatives highlights ongoing risks in global cybersecurity and corporate hiring.