South Africa’s Information Regulator has taken decisive action against WhatsApp, accusing the messaging giant of violating key sections of the country’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). The enforcement notice, served in September 2024 and only recently made public, gives WhatsApp 60 days to address the breaches or risk a fine of up to R10 million, jail time, or both. The regulator found that WhatsApp’s privacy policy for South African users falls short of the standards offered to users in Europe, despite similar legal protections under POPIA and the EU’s GDPR. Specifically, WhatsApp was cited for: Failing to obtain proper, freely given consent from users, instead forcing acceptance of terms without real choice. Not clearly stating why it collects certain types of data, such as device and usage information. Sharing collected data with Meta and third parties for purposes not aligned with the original reason for collection, breaching POPIA’s rules on data use. Lacking transparency and adequate documentation about its data processing activities, as required by law. Not providing sufficient evidence of technical and organisational safeguards to protect user information. WhatsApp was ordered to update its privacy policy, conduct a thorough personal information impact assessment, and improve communication with users in clear, simple language. The company must also comply with South Africa’s Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), a requirement it previously argued did not apply due to its global operations-an argument the regulator rejected. If WhatsApp fails to comply, it could face severe penalties, marking a significant moment for data privacy enforcement in South Africa and setting a precedent for how global tech companies handle user data on the continent. As of now, the public is still waiting to see if WhatsApp has met the regulator’s demands.
Google opens applications for 2025 African AI startups accelerator
Google has officially opened applications for the 2025 edition of its Google for Startups Accelerator Africa, inviting AI-driven startups across the continent to apply for its ninth cohort. The three-month hybrid program, set to begin in June, is designed for startups at the Seed to Series A stage that are building scalable, AI-powered solutions to Africa’s everyday challenges. Selected startups will benefit from up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits, technical training, mentorship from Google experts, and early access to new Google products. Participants will also have the chance to pitch their innovations to investors and partners during the program’s Demo Day in August. Folarin Aiyegbusi, Google’s Head of Startup Ecosystem in Africa, emphasized the program’s mission: “Startups are Africa’s problem solvers. With the right resources, they can scale their impact far beyond local communities. This program reflects our belief that AI can be transformative when shaped by those who understand the context deeply.” Since its launch in 2018, the accelerator has supported 140 startups from 17 African countries, helping them raise over $300 million and create more than 3,000 jobs. The program is entirely free, with Google taking no equity from participants. Applications are open from April 10 to May 9, 2025. To qualify, startups must demonstrate strong technical leadership, a commitment to leveraging AI, and a clear plan for growth. The initiative aims to ensure African innovators lead the continent’s digital transformation, with AI projected to add $1.3 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030. For African founders ready to make an impact, this is a unique opportunity to access world-class resources and join a growing community of tech leaders shaping the continent’s future.
Central bank of Kenya ends 10-year freeze on new bank licences
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has announced it will lift its decade-long freeze on licensing new commercial banks, opening the door for fresh players to enter one of East Africa’s most dynamic financial sectors. The moratorium, which has been in place since November 2015, will officially end on July 1, 2025. The ban was originally imposed after a series of banking failures and was designed to give the sector time to address governance, risk management, and operational weaknesses. Over the past ten years, the CBK says the industry has undergone significant reforms, including tighter regulations, improved supervision, and a wave of mergers and acquisitions that have reshaped the banking landscape. “Since then, significant strides have been made in strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for Kenya’s banking sector,” the CBK said in its official statement. The regulator highlighted that both domestic and international investors have shown renewed confidence in the sector, which now boasts 39 commercial banks among 46 licensed financial institutions. However, the path for new entrants will be more demanding. Any new bank must now demonstrate its ability to meet an enhanced minimum capital requirement of KSh10 billion, a tenfold increase from previous levels. This new threshold, introduced by the Business Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024, is intended to ensure that only well-capitalized and resilient institutions can operate in Kenya’s banking market. The CBK believes these changes will help banks withstand growing risks in the global and regional economy, while also supporting Kenya’s ambitions for large-scale development projects. The lifting of the moratorium is expected to attract both local and international investors, intensifying competition and potentially spurring innovation in the sector.
Mixed reactions as Ethiopia arrests journalists linked to rape documentary
Ethiopia is facing harsh criticism over press freedom after the arrest of seven journalists from the Ethiopian Broadcasting Service (EBS) on terrorism charges. The arrests, confirmed by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), followed the broadcast of a controversial documentary that aired on March 23, 2025, raising serious allegations of sexual violence. The documentary, part of EBS’s program Addis Meiraf, featured a woman named Birtukan Temesgen, who claimed she was abducted and raped in 2020 by men in military uniforms while she was a student. However, the story took an unexpected turn when Birtukan later appeared on state-owned media to retract her claims, stating they were fabricated. Following this, EBS founder Amman Fissehazion issued a public apology, admitting that the station had discovered inaccuracies in the story after its broadcast. Despite these developments, Ethiopian authorities moved swiftly to detain the journalists involved, accusing them of attempting to incite conflict and undermine the government in collaboration with alleged extremist groups in the Amhara region. The arrested journalists, Nebiyu Tiumelissan, Tariku Haile, Hilina Tarekegn, Niter Dereje, Girma Tefera, Henok Abate, and Habtamu Alemayehu, were taken into custody between March 26 and March 28 after a police raid on EBS headquarters in Addis Ababa. The raid briefly forced the station off-air. Birtukan herself was also detained. The arrests have sparked outrage among press freedom advocates and human rights organizations. Critics argue that using anti-terrorism laws to target journalists is a disproportionate response to what should be addressed as an issue of journalistic ethics. Muthoki Mumo, CPJ’s Africa Program Coordinator, described the move as heavy-handed and called for authorities to resolve such matters through Ethiopia’s media laws rather than criminal charges. The Ethiopian Media Authority has also suspended Addis Meiraf indefinitely as of April 1, pending “corrective actions.” This adds an administrative penalty to what many see as an already excessive legal response. Ethiopia has long struggled with press freedom. Ranked 141st out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the country has faced repeated accusations of suppressing dissenting voices. Between 2019 and 2024 alone, at least 92 journalists were detained, making Ethiopia one of the most repressive nations for media workers in sub-Saharan Africa. The arrests come amid escalating violence in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where tensions between federal forces and local militias have intensified. The Fano militia group, once allied with the government during the Tigray conflict, turned against Addis Ababa following efforts to dismantle regional forces. Despite a state of emergency imposed from August 2023 to June 2024, large parts of Amhara remain outside federal control. Authorities have linked the detained journalists to these ongoing conflicts, accusing them of working with extremist groups to destabilize the region. However, lawyers for the journalists argue that any editorial lapses should be addressed through regulatory frameworks rather than anti-terrorism laws that carry severe penalties. The case has drawn international attention. Organizations such as Amnesty International and RSF have called for the immediate release of the journalists and urged Ethiopian authorities to allow independent investigations into alleged human rights abuses in Amhara.
African airlines outperform global trends with strong passenger growth in February
African airlines are showing strong signs of recovery and growth in international travel, as passenger demand rose by 6.7% year-on-year in February 2025, according to the latest report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The report also highlighted a 4.0% increase in capacity during the same period, pushing the load factor, the percentage of available seating capacity occupied by passengers, to an impressive 75.3%. This marks a 2-percentage-point improvement compared to February 2024. While African airlines performed well, global passenger demand rose by 5.6% in February 2025, with capacity increasing by 4.5%. The average global load factor reached 80.2%, up slightly from February 2024. Asia-Pacific led the way with a 9.5% increase in demand and the highest load factor at 85.7%. European carriers saw demand grow by 5.7%, with a load factor of 75.5%. Middle Eastern airlines recorded a modest 3.1% rise in demand and an impressive load factor of 81.9%. Latin America posted a similar demand increase of 6.7%, though its load factor dropped to 81.7% due to higher capacity growth. North America, however, experienced a decline in international passenger demand, down by 1.5%, despite an improved load factor of 78.9%. IATA attributed slower global traffic growth to seasonal factors, including the leap year and Lunar New Year celebrations falling in January instead of February this year. Africa’s aviation sector has been steadily recovering over recent months: In January 2025, passenger demand surged by an impressive 14.9%, with capacity growing by 11.2%, achieving a load factor of 75.9%. In November 2024, demand increased by 12.4%, accompanied by a capacity rise of 6%, resulting in a load factor of 72.9%. Despite the positive outlook, IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh emphasized the need for vigilance, particularly regarding developments in North America, where both domestic and international traffic have seen declines. Scheduled flights are expected to increase in March and April, African airlines are well-positioned to capitalize on rising demand while addressing operational challenges to sustain growth.
Interpol’s Operation Red Card nets 306 suspects across seven African nations
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has resulted in the arrest of 306 individuals suspected of cybercrime across seven African countries. Dubbed Operation Red Card, the initiative ran from November 2024 to February 2025 and targeted cross-border criminal networks responsible for scams involving mobile banking, investment platforms, and messaging apps. According to INTERPOL, the operation uncovered schemes that affected over 5,000 victims, with authorities seizing 1,842 devices used in illegal activities. The crackdown highlights the growing threat of cyber-enabled scams and the importance of international cooperation in combating them. Nigeria recorded the highest number of arrests during the operation, with 130 suspects apprehended, including 113 foreign nationals. Investigations revealed that many of these individuals were involved in online casino and investment fraud schemes. Authorities also discovered that some suspects may have been victims of human trafficking, coerced into participating in criminal activities. The Nigerian police seized significant assets linked to these operations, including 26 vehicles, 16 houses, 39 plots of land, and 685 electronic devices. Many suspects reportedly converted their illicit proceeds into digital assets to conceal their tracks. South African authorities arrested 40 individuals connected to a SIM box fraud operation that rerouted international calls as local ones, a tactic often used to facilitate large-scale SMS phishing attacks. More than 1,000 SIM cards and 53 computers were seized during the raid. Meanwhile, in Zambia, authorities apprehended 14 members of a criminal syndicate accused of hacking victims’ phones through malicious links sent via text messages. Once clicked, these links installed malware that allowed hackers to gain control of devices and access banking apps. The syndicate also used compromised messaging accounts to spread malicious links further. Rwandan authorities arrested 45 individuals linked to social engineering scams that defrauded victims of over $305,000 in 2024 alone. These scams involved impersonating telecommunications employees or injured family members to extract sensitive information or financial assistance from victims. In total, $103,043 was recovered during the operation, alongside the seizure of 292 devices. INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime Directorate, Neal Jetton, praised the success of Operation Red Card as a testament to international cooperation in tackling cybercrime: “The recovery of significant assets and devices, as well as the arrest of key suspects, sends a strong message to cybercriminals that their activities will not go unpunished.” The operation was facilitated through INTERPOL’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC), an initiative funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Intelligence sharing among participating countries, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo, and Zambia, played a crucial role in identifying key targets and understanding criminal tactics.