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Saturday, 15 August 2026
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Saturday, 15 August 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

WhatsApp

WhatsApp — Meta-owned messaging platform introducing privacy features like usernames and monetisation tools, undergoing leadership changes and facing regulatory scrutiny.

2026-04-252026-08-15
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In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. May 2026

  2. Citizen Digital

    Instagram removes end-to-end encryption for private chats By Roy Ouma May 14, 2026 04:08 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter The logo of 'Instagram' is displayed on a mobile phone screen in front of a computer …

    Instagram removes end-to-end encryption for private chats
  3. April 2026

  4. Citizen Digital

    … Many have moved from WhatsApp to the non-profit Signal in recent years because of privacy concerns after WhatsApp said it would share some metadata with parent company Meta, which also owns Facebook and Instagram. …

    Germany launches spying probe into Signal attacks targeting MPs
Business

Meta chief outlines AI strategy amid competition with China

The News

Mark Zuckerberg published an essay on the future of artificial intelligence calling for the US to compete against China, prevent "government tyranny" over AI, and ensure "superintelligence" technology becomes available to everyone. He argues the solution includes "open" weight models that allow users to download the rules governing how an AI system behaves, contrasting with competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic that focus on closed AI models.

11 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 11 August

  1. Meta chief outlines AI strategy amid competition with China

    Mark Zuckerberg published an essay on the future of artificial intelligence calling for the US to compete against China, prevent "government tyranny" over AI, and ensure "superintelligence" technology becomes available to everyone. He argues the solution includes "open" weight models that allow users to download the rules governing how an AI system behaves, contrasting with competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic that focus on closed AI models.

    11 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 6 August

  1. Indian parliamentary panel demands Meta apology for Modi video removal

    An Indian parliamentary panel called on Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg to apologize for the temporary removal of a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Facebook and Instagram on July 23, which Meta said was caused by a technical error. The panel's head said the removal was the work of a publisher rather than an intermediary and demanded an apology within three days.

    6 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 29 July

  1. Russia seeks arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov

    Russia announced it is seeking the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov over accusations of complicity in terrorism, alleging he allowed the platform to be used for recruitment by Ukraine's security services. Durov, a Russian-born tech founder holding French and UAE passports who lives outside Russia, has repeatedly clashed with Russian authorities as Moscow has sought to tighten control over the internet.

    29 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 28 July

  1. South African banks pursue Kenya shares after retail failures

    South African companies are increasing their stake in Kenya's financial sector through investments in NCBA, Safaricom, and Absa Bank Kenya, after previous retail ventures like ShopRite and Massmart failed in the market.

    28 July 2026 · The Standard →

Sunday 19 July

  1. Facebook outage temporarily locks thousands of Kenyan users

    Thousands of Facebook users in Kenya and across the world were temporarily locked out of their accounts on Sunday due to a widespread service disruption. Users attempting to access the platform through web browsers received a message indicating a technical issue on Facebook's end, and some also reported difficulties on the mobile application.

    19 July 2026 · Capital News →

Tuesday 14 July

  1. Kenya's social media platforms evolve into commercial marketplaces

    Social media platforms like TikTok and Telegram in Kenya have transformed from spaces for sharing moments into commercial hubs where users market themselves, build businesses, seek financial support, and sometimes exploit others. Platforms originally designed for entertainment and privacy have increasingly hosted both legitimate economic activity and criminal enterprises.

    14 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 6 July

  1. Nigeria investigates tech giants over unlawful news content use

    Nigeria's competition regulator launched an investigation into major technology and AI companies, including Meta, Alphabet, X, and generative AI platforms, following allegations of unlawful exploitation of news content and unfair market practices. The investigation, initiated by presidential directive after a petition from the Nigerian Press Organisation, will examine unauthorised use of journalistic content for AI model development.

    6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Nigeria regulator probes tech firms for unlawful news use

    Nigeria's competition regulator said Monday it is investigating major technology and AI companies over allegations of unlawful exploitation of news content and unfair market practices, following a presidential directive after a petition by the Nigerian Press Organisation citing concerns about unauthorised use of journalistic content for AI training.

    6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 2 July

  1. WhatsApp adds privacy feature to hide phone numbers

    WhatsApp is introducing a feature that lets users interact with strangers without revealing their phone numbers, allowing new contacts to reach them only via a unique username. The platform is also rolling out monetisation tools including paid channel subscriptions and advertisements in Status.

    2 July 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 1 July

  1. Meta employees face layoffs, surveillance amid AI investment push

    Meta's aggressive spending on artificial intelligence capabilities has created internal turmoil, with employees at Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp experiencing frequent layoffs since early 2025, including a 10 percent workforce cut this spring affecting 8,000 jobs, plus accusations of surveillance through an internal AI training initiative.

    1 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. KRA iTax portal breaks down before June 30 tax deadline

    Kenya Revenue Authority's online tax filing system experienced intermittent delays and significant traffic surges in the final hours before the June 30 deadline, locking out hundreds of taxpayers unable to submit their 2025 income tax returns. KRA has ruled out extending the deadline.

    1 July 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 30 June

  1. WhatsApp launches username feature for private communication

    WhatsApp has introduced a new username feature that allows users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers, with reservation beginning this week and full rollout later this year. The feature is designed to improve privacy by letting users connect without disclosing their personal phone numbers to new contacts.

    30 June 2026 · Capital News →

  2. WhatsApp will let users create usernames instead of sharing phone numbers

    WhatsApp said it will let hundreds of millions of users pick unique usernames to share instead of phone numbers, designed to protect privacy. The feature will be rolled out gradually over the coming months, with no directory or suggestions—people will need to know the exact username to contact someone.

    30 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 29 June

  1. WhatsApp rolls out username feature for private chat initiation

    WhatsApp has begun allowing its three billion users worldwide to reserve unique usernames, enabling people to chat without revealing their phone numbers. The Meta-owned platform described the move as a major privacy overhaul.

    29 June 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 23 June

  1. Kunal Shah appointed WhatsApp head by Meta

    Meta has appointed Indian fintech founder Kunal Shah as the new head of WhatsApp as the tech giant seeks to monetise the messaging app. The announcement was accompanied by news that Meta would lead a $900 million funding round in Shah's consumer finance firm CRED.

    23 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

  2. Indian fintech founder Kunal Shah becomes new WhatsApp global head

    Meta has appointed Indian fintech founder Kunal Shah to lead WhatsApp, as the US tech giant works to monetise the messaging app's large user base. Meta is also leading a $900 million funding round in Shah's consumer finance firm CRED.

    23 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Friday 19 June

  1. Exchange rates now part of everyday conversation for Kenyans

    Exchange rate trends have become increasingly visible to ordinary Kenyans as effects become harder to ignore, driven by questions about economic growth and increased interest in economic indicators. Mobile technology and online trading platforms have enabled more Kenyans to participate actively in the forex market rather than simply observe it.

    19 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 15 June

  1. UK announces ban on social media for under-16s

    UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that children under 16 will be banned from using social media platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, citing concerns that such platforms expose youngsters to dangerous and addictive content. The ban is expected to pass by late December and come into force in spring 2025.

    15 June 2026 · The Standard →

Saturday 13 June

  1. Social media transforms how people connect and maintain relationships

    Social media platforms including Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram and WhatsApp have changed how people connect, express themselves and build relationships across distances, contrasting with earlier reliance on face-to-face conversation, letters and phone calls that required more effort and deeper personal valuation.

    13 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Wednesday 10 June

  1. EU orders Meta to open WhatsApp to rival AI chatbots

    The European Commission ordered Meta on Tuesday to give rival AI chatbots access to its WhatsApp platform for free within five working days during an antitrust investigation into Meta's policy of blocking access for non-Meta AI providers, or face a heavy fine.

    10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 14 May

  1. Meta discontinues end-to-end encryption for Instagram private chats

    Meta has discontinued end-to-end encryption for Instagram private chats as of May 8, 2026. A Meta spokesperson told The Guardian that few users opted for the service since it was not automatic, and the company is removing this option from Instagram.

    14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Saturday 25 April

  1. Germany investigates phishing attacks on MPs via Signal

    German prosecutors launched a spying investigation into phishing attacks targeting lawmakers on the Signal messaging app, with attacks allegedly directed at MPs from several parties, civil servants, diplomats and journalists. The attacks work by sending fake Signal support messages to trick victims into handing over account information, potentially allowing hackers to access chat groups, messages, photos and files.

    25 April 2026 · Citizen Digital →

WhatsApp — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute