Author: Akin Naphtal

YouTube’s recent decision to ban ad blockers on its platform has sparked backlash from privacy advocates in Europe who claim that the move violates the region’s data protection laws. A privacy expert, Alexander Hanff, has filed a complaint with the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC), arguing that YouTube’s adblocker detection system is a form of spyware that requires user consent. Adblockers are software tools that prevent websites from displaying ads to users, thus improving browsing experiences and protecting user privacy. However, YouTube, which relies on ads for its revenue, has been cracking down on adblockers by blocking access to its…

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, Hon. Eliud O. Owalo has been adjudged the Digital Economy Personality of the Year at the 8th Africa Digital Economy Awards (ADEA) 2023, held on 10th November, at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The Digital Economy Personality of the Year is in recognition of his impeccable role in driving digitalization in Kenya as well as his role as CS for the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy which has birthed several initiatives and innovations making Kenya a digital hub in the continent. Hon…

In a bid to re-enter the Chinese market, Meta Platforms has reportedly entered a deal with Chinese technology company, Tencent Holdings, to introduce a new, affordable virtual reality (VR) headset in China. This marks the Facebook and Instagram parent company’s return to a market where it had taken a 14-year hiatus, a repor by the Wall Street Journal said. The Wall Street Journal also cited sources saying Tencent will be the exclusive seller of Meta’s new VR headset in China, with sales expected to commence in late 2024. The deal presents Meta with an opportunity to compete with TikTok owner,…

The eighth edition of the Africa Digital Economy Awards (ADEA) is set to be held tonight at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, marking its first-ever showing in Kenya, and outside of West Africa. Themed “Celebrating Digital Excellence,” ADEA 2023 seeks to honour Africa’s digital champions, innovators, creatives, and inventions that have significantly shaped the digital growth and security of the continent’s digital economy. Powered by Digital Economy Magazine, a publication of ISO-certified InstinctWave Group, the awards event acknowledges and celebrates the transformative impact of digital innovations across multiple African sectors. ADEA also aligns with the African Union’s…

The Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation (MESTI) and GIZ Ghana, has inaugurated the Ghana Digital Innovation Week (GDIW) at the Accra International Centre. The Deputy Minister, Ms Ama Pomaa Boateng, who spoke on behalf of the Sector Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, thanked all partners for their dedication to the growth of the GDIW since its inception in 2021, noting that the event was here to stay. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful stated that she was “profoundly inspired by the wave of technological advancements and the growing culture of innovation in our nation. Our…

In a bid to foster digital literacy and innovation among the Nigeria youth, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMoCIDE) has unveiled a partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation to introduce Code Clubs across Nigeria. Tailored for students aged seven to 17, these Code Clubs are envisioned as a network of additional programming clubs designed to cultivate a new generation of savvy and inventive minds in Nigeria’s digital space. In a press release on Tuesday, 8th November, FMoCIDE revealed that the initiative will commence from 17 knowledge exchange centres and is poised to expand across all six…

Head of the Korea Trade Development Agency (KOTRA), Eom Ikhyun has announced that three Korean companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kenyan companies to invest in the countries ongoing technological developments. The two of the firms including, Korea GT, POQUTEC signed an MoU with SONVAR Chemicals, Regal Equipment respectively, while the third firm SJ Chemical on its part signed a deal with two Kenyan companies Business Enterprises (PABE), and Kleos Flooring. The three firms are among the fifteen companies showcasing at the Korean Pavilion and seeking to strengthen business ties with Kenyan counterparts. They have also promised…

Safaricom PLC recorded a strong growth in profitability for the six months to September 30, 2023, hitting a double-digit growth in net income to close at 10.9 per cent to Sh41.6 billion. The telecom giant group’s net income, excluding minority interest, recorded a positive net income growth at 2.1 per cent to Sh34.2 billion, up from a 10.6 per cent decline in FY23, while the group service revenue grew by 10 per cent. Since 2020, Safaricom has progressively reduced up to 65% in data prices, 44% in outgoing calls per minute and up to 61% reduction in M-Pesa tariff. The…

Safaricom has entered a partnership with M-PESA Africa and Sumitomo Corporation, a leading Fortune 500 global trading and business investment company, to launch the Spark Accelerator, a program to support early-stage startups to grow and scale their businesses. The three partners will work together to identify quality startups and provide a blend of mentorship, funding and go to market support. “Anchored around our purpose of transforming lives and in line with our ambition to be a purpose led technology company, our goal is simple yet powerful, to empower startups with the access they need to succeed. We are taking an ecosystem-based…

USA’s Federal Communications Commission has made a major move to reduce the digital gap and support online education by suggesting a growth of the E-Rate program. Schools and libraries could apply for funding to offer Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless internet access services that can be used outside their premises, under this proposal. This move is a reaction to the increasing dependence on online educational tools and remote learning, which makes it vital to update the E-Rate program to match the changing needs of students and educators. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel stressed the importance of reducing the digital gap, which became…