TikTok Restored after Brief Shutdown in US; Google Refuses to Add Fact Checks in Line with EU Code; IAB Adds CTV and Retail Media to Gold Standard

News in brief: TikTok Restored after Brief Shutdown in US; Google Refuses to Add Fact Checks in Line with EU Code; IAB Adds CTV and Retail Media to Gold Standard; UK Gov Gives Creative Industries £60m Boost 

TikTok Restored After Brief Shutdown in US

On Sunday, TikTok became unavailable to users in the US as the ban law took effect. US users reported that the app was no longer appearing on App Stores in the country. The app has already been restored for US users, however, with President Trump – whose inauguration takes places today – having vowed to issue an executive order to retain the app. Yet, TikTok's future remains slightly uncertain, with the Supreme Court having upheld the ban law. The app has been fully banned in several other countries including Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. Meanwhile in the UK, MP Darren Jones said that there are currently "no plans" to introduce a ban.

Google Refuses to Add Fact Checks in Line with EU Code

As the EU looks to expand its laws surrounding disinformation, Google has informed the European Commission (EC) that it will not add fact checks to its Search results or YouTube videos. Currently, a voluntary Disinformation Code of Practice is in place – introduced in 2022. Over the past year, however, the EC has been holding discussions about converting these voluntary measures to an official code of conduct under the Digital Services Act. Google has never included fact-checking in its content moderation practices; the new rules would require it to incorporate fact-checking in Search results, alongside YouTube videos, and additionally build fact-checking features into its algorithms and ranking systems.  

According to Axois, a letter sent by Kent Walker – Google's global affairs president, to Renate Nikolay, the commission’s tech deputy director – lays out the tech giant’s refusal to introduce fact-checking features. The letter states that the introduction of such features "simply isn't appropriate or effective” for their services, and that “Google won't commit to it.” 

IAB Adds CTV and Retail Media to Gold Standard

The IAB has expanded its IAB Gold Standard Initiative to include connected TV (CTV) and retail media for the first time. The initiative aims to address challenges within the advertising ecosystem, such as tackling ad fraud, improving supply chain transparency, and limiting carbon emissions. Now, companies and retail media networks will be able to become IAB Gold Standard-certified by aligning their practices with the IAB’s measurement standards. 

UK Gov Gives Creative Industries £60m Boost

The Labour government has announced a £60m funding boost for the UK’s creative industries,  going towards supporting growth in the sector. The sum includes £40m for start-up video game studios, grassroots music venues, and creative businesses outside of London. Hundreds of other creative businesses and projects across the UK will also receive funding. Further funding for the creative industries will be provided, to be agreed on as part of the Spending Review.