CAR Launches Bitcoin Hub, Theranos Exec Convicted of Fraud, and Twitter Challenges Indian Government Order to Remove Content

Africa

Central African Republic launches crypto hub

The Central African Republic has launched a government-backed cryptocurrency hub called Sango. This comes after the country made Bitcoin legal tender. The hub will make it easier for the citizens to invest in the country’s mining resources.

MapAfrica launches mobile app

MapAfrica has launched its mobile app to allow businesses and professionals to list their products and skills online. MapAfrica makes it easy to accept payments by connecting businesses with clients.

Mono open bank expands to Kenya

Nigeria’s open banking startup, Mono, has expanded its operations to Kenya. Mono allows businesses to access confidential financial data while accepting direct bank payments.

Europe

British Army’s social media accounts hacked

The British Army’s YouTube and Twitter accounts were hacked, according to the Army. The hackers uploaded several crypto videos with images of Elon Musk on YouTube. Meanwhile, the Twitter account retweeted NFT tweets. The army is investigating the situation.

Improved Online Safety Bill to do better on child abuse images

Ofcom will receive better tools to force tech firms to do better in removing child abuse media on the internet. When parliament amends the Online Safety Bill, Ofcom will be able to impose up to 10% of the offending firm’s global turnover

MPs want ban on some Chinese CCTV cameras

A number of Lords and MPs are calling on the UK government to ban CCTV cameras manufactured by Hikvision and Dahua. The group claims both companies have been linked with human rights violations in China.

The Americas

Theranos’s Balwany convicted of fraud

Theranos executive, Ramesh Sunny Balwany, has been convicted of fraud by a US court. He had claimed, together with founder Elizabeth Homes, that Theranos’s device could detect hundreds of diseases with only a few blood samples. Both execs will be sentenced later in the year.

Apple to launch Lockdown Mode to fight spyware

Apple is launching a new Lockdown Mode to help at-risk users to protect their devices against spyware attacks. Activists, journalists, and high-risk users can block unknown users from calling, among other functions.

Disney’s Facebook and Instagram accounts hacked on Thursday

Disney has announced that its Instagram and Facebook accounts were hacked on Thursday. The hacker posted racist remarks on the company’s accounts.

Asia

Twitter is challenging India’s order to take down tweets

Twitter is fighting an Indian government order to take down certain content on its platform. Filing a petition in Karnataka, Twitter claims the order demonstrated excessive use of political power by the government.

China’s COVID-19 app limits travel history tracking

China is limiting its scrutiny of citizen’s travel history, it has been reported. The app will now monitor a citizen’s previous seven-day travel history instead of 14. This is part of the government’s ease of COVID-19 restrictions.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics looking to make camera modules for Tesla

Samsung Electro-Mechanics has said it is in talks to provide a number of camera modules to Tesla, Reuters has reported. The company added that it could not disclose the size of the deal yet.