The social grants system has faced allegations of fraud over the years. MTBPS 2026: Government has witnessed R13.1 billion in savings by reducing social grant fraud through administration and verification measures. As a result, it will implement similar approaches for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme bursaries and housing subsidies, according to National Treasury. Treasury…
African security chiefs are worried about the increasing use of digital technologies and social media platforms by terrorist groups that hold sway over ungoverned territories across the Sahel and West Africa region. African security chiefs are worried about the increasing use of digital technologies and social media platforms by terrorist groups that hold sway over…
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre have raised the alarm over the growing use of social media, cryptocurrencies and emerging technologies by terrorist groups to recruit members, finance operations and coordinate attacks across West Africa and the Sahel. They gave the warning in Abuja on Tuesday at a three-day…
The content regulator is combining human monitors, automated tools and international networks as it strengthens its online enforcement capabilities. (Image source: iStock) The Film and Publication Board (FPB) is planning to incorporate generative artificial intelligence (AI) into its regulatory processes, as it seeks to improve the monitoring, analysis and classification of the growing volume of…
A mysterious object filmed hovering over Tehran has sparked online speculation, with theories ranging from a children’s kite to advanced military surveillance equipment, while Iranian authorities have not identified it. Published On 21 Sep 202621 Sep 2026 Share Mystery object spotted hovering over Tehran on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo
The EU has announced plans to restrict social media access for under-15s across its member states, in a bid to increase wellbeing and tackle online safety. Under the plans, there would be a gradual approach to children using social media which would include banning under 13s from accessing platforms. Those aged 13 to 15 would…
Nigeria’s social media growth industry has spent the past few years building genuine technical infrastructure and market trust at home. A newer, less discussed pattern is now emerging alongside it, several Nigerian-built platforms are beginning to serve customers well beyond Nigeria’s own borders, extending into Ghana and Kenya as real, distinct markets rather than incidental…
Most citizens express tolerance for ethnic, religious, and national differences but want to limit immigration. Key findings Across 38 African countries, interpersonal trust declines sharply as social distance increases. On average, 81% of Africans say they trust relatives “somewhat” or “a lot,” vs. 58% who trust their neighbours and around half who trust people of…
SASMA 2026 puts SA’s creator economy under the spotlight, with organisers calling for greater investment, policy support and protection. (Image source: iStock) South Africa’s social media creator economy came under the spotlight as the nominees for the 2026 Openserve South African Social Media Awards (SASMA) were shortlisted over the weekend. The industry is positioned as…
Researchers identify AI monitoring, platform regulation, demand reduction and community coordination as key weapons against online wildlife trafficking. (Image created via Gemini) Social media platforms − including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube − are fuelling a rapidly-expanding illegal wildlife trade that is becoming increasingly difficult to detect and police. A review conducted by a team…
