Ghana Fights Fake Mobile Devices, US Companies Restrict Services to Huawei, Facebook Removes Billions of Fake Profiles

Africa

Ghana wages war against fake mobile devices

Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) is to clamp down on fake mobile devices, according to reports on Graphic Online. The move is to check the dangerous emissions that sub-standard devices pose to users in the country. As part of plans to curb the use of such devices, the NCA will, in the future, work with telcos to disconnect fake devices from their network. In addition to posing security risks, the Ministry of Communications suggested such devices also evaded taxes, leading to a loss of revenue to the state.

Wari customers get financial services via WhatsApp

Wari, a leading fintech on the African continent will offer financial services to its customers via WhatsApp, it has been announced. By integrating with WhatsApp Business, customers can request financial services from anywhere in the world. The service is currently available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. Customers will be able to open accounts, purchase airtime, as well as other services. Wari aims at making financial service accessible to customers from anywhere in the world.

The Americas

Google suspends Huawei’s Android license

Google has revoked Huawei’s access to selected Android updates, it has been revealed. This means that Huawei smartphones will not have access to certain Android apps. The revelation comes after the Trump administration included Huawei in a list of foreign companies that American firms need a license to work with. Google has said it was complying with the administration’s directives while reviewing its further implications. Since then, companies like Qualcomm and Intel have announced their decision to curb supply to the Chinese company. According to a report by CNBC, however, Huawei has already created an OS for its smartphones and laptops.

Facebook deletes 3 billion fake accounts

Facebook has deleted 3 billion fake accounts from October to March for promoting hate speech, it has been reported. Facebook said fake accounts were on the rise due to the activities of bad actors who were using automated means to create such accounts. Some accounts were involved in the dissemination of violence and terrorist propaganda, while others circulated child sex abuse imagery. There were about 1 million appeals to Facebook’s decision, out of which 150,000 were successful.

Asia

Facebook bans Israeli company from ‘disrupting’ foreign elections

Facebook has banned an Israeli company, Archimedes Group for creating fake accounts to spread election propaganda, The Independent has reported. The company, based in Tel Aviv, deployed Facebook pages to spread news related to elections in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Facebook delisted over 200 pages, accounts, and groups on its social network sites including Instagram for deliberately spreading fake news. About 2.6 million users were following one or more of the pages, it was revealed. The Archimedes Group prides itself for “winning elections worldwide.” “When approaching a client’s challenge, we address all possible facets relating to it. We then formulate a concise yet comprehensive solution that will use every tool and take every advantage available in order to change reality according to our client’s wishes,” it says on the company website.

Phone retailers reject Huawei trade-ins

Asian smartphone retailers are rejecting Huawei trade-ins from users who fear for the future after Google suspended its business relations with Huawei. Google is complying with the US government’s orders to stop supplying services to Huawei. This would mean holders of Huawei phones could potentially become cut off when Google stops sending updates for Android and apps like YouTube and Chrome to holders of the device. Users are therefore trouping in to sell their phones, but there are few retailers willing to accept such deals if they can’t sell them on eventually, says a Reuters report.

NetEase to launch first Pokemon game

Chinese firm, NetEase, is set to launch Pokemon Quest for the first time in China. The report by Reuters says the gaming giant will partner with The Pokemon Company and Gamefreak for the release. In addition, NetEase will release different games produced by Marvel.

Europe

Infineon suspends supply to Huawei

German chipmaker, Infineon, has suspended shipments to Huawei following Huawei’s blacklisting by the Trump admnistration, Reuters has said. The suspension is believed to be the result of Trump’s inclusion of Huawei on a blacklist. Infineon’s annual sales to Huawei is believed to be at about $100 million. It is not clear whether the company will review its decision in the near future.

BT to give rivals access to its network

BT is expected to give rival companies greater access to its Openreach network in order to hasten roll-out of high-speed cables, Reuters has confirmed. The new rules means rivals will be able to use BT’s telegraph poles and underground ducts to deploy their fibre networks to reach residential, small business and, more importantly, large business customers. Previously, rivals couldn’t leverage BT’s network to provide services to large customers. The decision by regulator, Ofcom, will encourage other telecom companies to invest in fibre technology.