Technology

The Supreme Court’s TikTok ruling is an ominous turn for online speech

Published

11 months ago

January 24, 2025

The Supreme Court’s TikTok ruling is an ominous turn for online speech

When the Supreme Court upheld a law that banned TikTok from the US, it seemed well aware that its ruling could resonate far beyond one app. The justices delivered an unsigned opinion with a quote from Justice Felix Frankfurter from 1944: “in considering the application of established legal rules to the ‘totally new problems’ raised by the airplane and radio, we should take care not to ‘embarrass the future.’”

Last Friday, the court tried to accomplish this with a narrow ruling: a decision that upheld the government’s ability to ban one service on a tight timeline, while stressing a limited scope concerning “new technologies with transformative capabilities.” Yet, amid a confounding political circus over TikTok, some legal experts believe the Supreme Court’s ruling could have a broad ripple effect on speech and tech law — they’re just not agreed on what it would be.

“Even though it’s narrowly written, it also seems clear that they want to make a mark on these kinds of questions,” says Sarah Kreps, director of the Tech Policy Institute at Cornell University’s public policy school. University of Chicago law professor Genevieve Lakier put it more bluntly on Bluesky: “The Court tried but failed to make no new law here.”

Lakier’s main concern, echoed by several amicus briefs in the case, is that the Supreme Court is enabling a form of backdoor speech regulation. In oral arguments, the US government insisted that the ban wasn’t a First Amendment issue because it only targeted corporate structure — in this case, TikTok’s foreign ownership. But TikTok argued that lawmakers disliked TikTok and its users’ speech and merely found a pretext for punishing it. At the very least, Lakier and others worry the Supreme Court ruling could let something like that happen to other communications platforms.

“The Court tried but failed to make no new law here.”

“The very worst part of the opinion (I think right now) is that it gives [governments] space to whitewash bad content-based motivations by tacking on plausible-sounding content-neutral ones,” Lakier wrote. The court determined that selling a business isn’t an expressive act, but she argues this conflicts with one of its most widely known rulings: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which found that an act that doesn’t explicitly involve speech (donating to political campaigns) could still count as a form of speech.

Then there’s the ruling’s decision that national security could justify potential speech suppression. The court “has weakened the First Amendment and markedly expanded the government’s power to restrict speech in the name of national security,” said Jameel Jaffer, Knight First Amendment Institute executive director. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) National Security Project deputy director Patrick Toomey echoed these concerns: “the Supreme Court is giving the executive branch unprecedented power to silence speech it doesn’t like, increasing the danger that sweeping invocations of ‘national security’ will trump our constitutional rights.”

“American-owned platforms are still covered pretty aggressively under Section 230.”

Kreps thinks the ruling is unlikely to bring a wave of censorship for US-based companies, though. “I think that part of the opinion was indeed narrow, and was very careful that this foreign ownership puts it into a very different category,” she says. “American-owned platforms are still covered pretty aggressively under Section 230.”

But if nothing else, the decision will “make it more difficult for the United States to challenge the increasing number of censorial speech regulations targeting U.S.-based platforms in other countries,” writes Jacob Mchangama, executive director of The Future of Free Speech, a nonpartisan think tank at Vanderbilt University.

While some fear a future of speech regulations wrapped in national security rhetoric, others make the opposite argument: that it will stop businesses from dodging regulation by hiding behind the First Amendment.

“Corporations may not hide behind flimsy First Amendment arguments in order to avoid regulation carte blanche”

The Open Markets Institute, which advocates for stronger antitrust enforcement, took a positive view of the ruling — despite being unconvinced of the law’s merits. “The Supreme Court reaffirms an important precedent that Congress maintains fundamental legislative authority to regulate corporations,” senior legal analyst Daniel Hanley says in a statement. “In other words, corporations may not hide behind flimsy First Amendment arguments in order to avoid regulation carte blanche.”

University of Colorado Law School professor Blake Reid says the ruling is unlikely to affect some baseline legal questions, like how the court decides whether future tech laws raise First Amendment concerns. He believes TikTok made a weak argument for its own speech interests, particularly because the law’s penalties apply to app stores and hosting services, not TikTok itself. “TikTok had a harder job than it seemed to think it did in establishing how its speech was getting implicated,” says Reid. “When your speech is contingent on the speech of platforms who are not going to show up and fight the government on your behalf, that’s a tough place to be in.”

Other platforms have made similar arguments convincingly, though — Reid pointed, for instance, to the 2024 NetChoice rulings that recognized content moderation as expressive speech.

The TikTok ruling could change how courts across the country address one crucial issue: the level of scrutiny applied to lawsuits that allege First Amendment violations, a decision that dramatically impacts their likelihood of success. The government put forward two separate rationales for its ban: concerns that China was collecting US data and that it could manipulate TikTok’s algorithm for propaganda purposes. The court seemed skeptical of the latter argument, and it decided data collection alone justified upholding the law. “The court was pretty open here to saying, we’re going to look past the justification we might have some more concerns about and look for the one that seems legitimate,” Reid says. Lower courts, he predicts, could decide “maybe we can be a little bit more solicitous” of the claims legislators make about why they’re passing internet regulation.

It’s a balancing act the Supreme Court will have to make again later this year. Last week, the court held arguments in Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton, which pits First Amendment rights against state legislatures’ concerns about children’s access to pornography. That decision will hinge on what level of scrutiny the court applies — and its ruling could overturn a two-decade-old precedent and age-gate parts of the internet.

Even so, Reid sees the TikTok ruling’s role as “a pretty small change on the margins” in the grand scheme of things. In the end, Reid says, “the biggest thing about this case is just the impact on TikTok itself.”

Technology

Surprise, surprise: Silksong wins Steam’s Game of the Year

Published

8 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Surprise, surprise: Silksong wins Steam’s Game of the Year

Valve has announced the winners of the 2025 Steam Awards and, unsurprisingly, Hollow Knight: Silksong, took home the Game of the Year honors. It was also given the “Best Game You Suck At” award, which, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. Given the relentless fawning over Silksong since its release in September, an event that nearly brought the entire digital video game distribution system to its knees, that it would win Game of the Year felt like something of a forgone conclusion.

The Best Game on Steam Deck was awarded to Hades II (an award we’d already unofficially granted it). The mechanics of Hades lend it to being played in short bursts, and the stylized graphics scale down well. Silent Hill f won the Outstanding Visual Style award and, while there’s no denying it’s a gorgeous title, I can’t help but feel like Dream BBQ, with its uniquely hallucinatory visuals, got robbed. Check out the full list of winners and nominees here at the Steam Awards 2025 landing page.

Technology

University of Phoenix data breach hits 3.5M people

Published

9 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

University of Phoenix data breach hits 3.5M people

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The University of Phoenix has confirmed a major data breach affecting nearly 3.5 million people. The incident traces back to August when attackers accessed the university’s network and quietly stole sensitive information.

The school detected the intrusion on Nov. 21. That discovery came after the attackers listed the university on a public leak site. In early December, the university disclosed the incident, and its parent company filed an 8-K with regulators.

The scope is large. Notification letters filed with Maine’s Attorney General show 3,489,274 individuals were affected. Those affected include current and former students, faculty, staff and suppliers.

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DATA BREACH EXPOSES 400,000 BANK CUSTOMERS’ INFO

The University of Phoenix data breach exposed sensitive personal and financial information tied to nearly 3.5 million people. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What happened and how attackers got in

According to the university, hackers exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Oracle E-Business Suite. This application handles financial operations and contains highly sensitive data.

Based on the technical details shared so far, security researchers believe the attack aligns with tactics used by the Clop ransomware gang. Clop has a long track record of stealing data through zero-day flaws rather than encrypting systems.

The vulnerability tied to this campaign is tracked as CVE-2025-61882. Investigators say it has been abused since early August.

What data was exposed

The university says the attackers accessed highly sensitive personal and financial information. That includes:

Full names
Contact information
Dates of birth
Social security numbers
Bank account numbers
Routing numbers

This type of data creates a serious risk. It can fuel identity theft, financial fraud and targeted phishing scams.

700CREDIT DATA BREACH EXPOSES SSNS OF 5.8M CONSUMERS

Stolen University of Phoenix records could be used by criminals to launch targeted phishing and identity theft attacks. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Nearly 3.5 million people affected

In letters sent to affected individuals, the university confirmed the breach affects 3,489,274 people. If you are a current or former student or employee, watch your mail closely.

These notifications often arrive by postal mail, not email. The letter explains what data was exposed and includes instructions for protective services.

We reached out to the University of Phoenix for comment, and a rep provided CyberGuy with the following statement:

“We recently experienced a cybersecurity incident involving the Oracle E-Business Suite software platform. Upon detecting the incident on November 21, 2025, we promptly took steps to investigate and respond with the assistance of leading third-party cybersecurity firms. We are reviewing the impacted data and will provide the required notifications to affected individuals and regulatory entities.”

Free identity protection is now available

The University of Phoenix is offering affected individuals free identity protection services. These include:

12 months of credit monitoring
Identity theft recovery assistance
Dark web monitoring
A $1 million fraud reimbursement policy

To enroll, you must use the redemption code provided in the notification letter. Without that code, you cannot activate the service.

This attack fits a larger Clop campaign

The University of Phoenix breach is not an isolated case. Clop has used similar tactics in past campaigns involving GoAnywhere MFT, Accellion FTA, MOVEit Transfer, Cleo and Gladinet CentreStack.

Other universities have also reported Oracle EBS-related incidents. These include Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.

The U.S. government is taking notice. The U.S. Department of State is now offering a reward of up to $10 million for information linking Clop’s attacks to a foreign government.

Why colleges are prime targets

Universities store massive amounts of personal data. Student records, financial aid files, payroll systems and donor databases all live under one roof.

Like healthcare organizations, colleges present a high-value target. A single breach can expose years of data tied to millions of people.

MAKE 2026 YOUR MOST PRIVATE YEAR YET BY REMOVING BROKER DATA

Affected University of Phoenix students and staff should act quickly to monitor accounts and protect their identities. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Steps to stay safe right now

If you believe you may be affected, act quickly. These steps can reduce your risk.

1) Watch for your breach notification letter

Read it carefully. It explains what data was exposed and how to enroll in protection services.

2) Enroll in the free identity protection

First, use the redemption code provided. Because Social Security and banking data are involved, credit monitoring and recovery services matter. Even if you do not qualify for the free service, an identity theft protection service is still a smart move.

In addition, these services actively monitor sensitive details like your Social Security number, phone number and email address. If your information appears on the dark web or if someone tries to open a new account, you receive an alert right away. As a result, many services also help you quickly freeze bank and credit card accounts to limit further fraud.

See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com

3) Use a data removal service

Because this breach exposed names, contact details and other identifiers, reducing what is publicly available about you matters. A data removal service can help remove your personal information from data broker sites, which lowers the risk of targeted phishing or fraud tied to the stolen University of Phoenix records.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com

4) Monitor financial accounts daily

Check bank statements and credit card activity for unfamiliar charges. Report anything suspicious immediately.

5) Consider freezing your credit

A credit freeze can stop criminals from opening new accounts in your name. It is free and reversible. To learn more about how to do this, go to Cyberguy.com and search “How to freeze your credit.”

6) Be alert for phishing attempts and use strong antivirus software

Expect more scam emails and phone calls. Criminals may reference the breach to sound legitimate.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

7) Secure your devices

Keep your operating systems and apps up to date, as attackers often exploit outdated software to gain access. In addition, enable automatic updates and review app permissions to prevent stolen personal data from being combined with device-level access and causing further harm.

Kurt’s key takeaways

The University of Phoenix data breach highlights a growing problem in higher education. When attackers exploit trusted enterprise software, the fallout spreads fast and wide. While free identity protection helps, long-term vigilance matters most. Staying alert can limit damage long after the headlines fade.

If universities cannot protect this level of sensitive data, should students demand stronger cybersecurity standards before enrolling? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

LG announces new UltraGear evo gaming monitors with AI upscaling

Published

6 days ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

LG announces new UltraGear evo gaming monitors with AI upscaling

LG unveiled a whole new line of gaming monitors ahead of CES on Friday. The UltraGear evo line are all high-end monitors covering a range of technologies, but united by 5K resolution and AI upscaling.

The three flagships under the new branding are the 39GX950B, the 27GM950B, and the 52G930B. The first number in the model name indicates the size. The rest of the letters and numbers, well, I’m sure they mean something to someone.

The 39-inch GX9 is an ultrawide 21:9 5K2K dual-mode OLED screen. It can run at its full resolution at 165Hz, or jump to 330Hz for fast-twitch games at WFHD. The 27-inch GM9 uses “New” MiniLEDs, which promise to deliver brighter images compared to OLED, without the blooming often associated with MiniLEDs. Lastly, the 52-inch G9 is an absolutely massive curved display that delivers a 12:9 panoramic view at 240Hz in its native 5K2K resolution.

The GM9 model is particularly interesting since LG makes the panels for Apple’s Pro Display XDR, and word is that the monitor is finally getting a long-overdue update in the near future.

All three monitors will be on display at CES next month, but there’s no word on pricing or availability just yet.