Zimbabwe will require WhatsApp group administrators to register with the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ), which requires them to meet certain requirements and pay a fee.

The government has indicated that the measure is in response to its fight for digital security and to curb disinformation.

WhatsApp group administrators must comply with the Data Protection Act

“The costs associated with this license vary depending on the size and scope of the group. The minimum price is $50, but in some cases it can reach up to $2,500, which represents a considerable burden for some administrators, especially in smaller groups,” they said.

Among the requirements that group administrators must meet is the appointment of a Data Protection Officer (DPO), who must be certified by POTRAZ. His or her role will be to ensure compliance with the “Data Protection Act, which covers aspects such as the handling of personal information of group members, including telephone numbers.”

The Minister of Information Technology, Publicity and Communication Services of Zimbabwe, Monica Mutsvangwa, supported the measure and indicated that through the licenses it will be possible to “trace the origin of any disinformation that is spread and that may cause conflict or violence.”

It is important to note that the regulation also applies to small businesses, religious groups and informal communities that use “WhatsApp as an efficient tool for organization and dialogue.”

Reactions to the announcement have not been long in coming. Activists and citizens in general have expressed concern that the application of licenses could result in a mechanism to restrict “open and free communication online, a fundamental right in the digital age.”

On the other hand, the fee that they will have to pay for the license and appoint a DPO “could discourage many people from creating or managing groups on the platform, limiting participation and discussion on important community issues.”

M.Pino

Source: computerhoy

(Reference image source: Dimitri Karastelev in Unsplash)

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La entrada Zimbabwe to require WhatsApp group admins to obtain a license apareció primero en Bitfinance.

In a statement on April 6, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announced the adoption of a new currency, guaranteed by the bank and backed by gold.

This is Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), which comes to strengthen measures to reduce inflation in the country and provide macroeconomic stability.

From the local regulatory entity they added that the decision was made to address the volatility of the exchange rate, “restore the stability of prices and exchange rates and remonetize the local currency so that it fulfills its function as a medium of exchange and store of value, which seeks to rebuild market confidence, as well as the credibility of banking policies.”

The country’s economy is marked by increasing dollarization, where more than 80 % of market transactions are carried out in the US currency. However, “public outcry over excessive bank charges, the exchange problem, the rejection of dirty US dollar notes and the drawbacks of the small denominations of the Zimbabwe dollar have made it ineffective as a store of value and means of change.”

The Zimbabwe government expects demand for the local currency to increase, amid a devaluation set this week at 33,000 Zimbabwe dollars for every US dollar. On the other hand, he is betting that the ZiG, the new gold-backed currency, will soon replace the dollar in the local market.

M.Pino

Source: pensa-latina.cu

(Reference image source: Rob en Unsplash)

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La entrada Zimbabwe to mitigate inflation with gold-backed currency apareció primero en Bitfinance.

Skrill and Neteller have made the decision to quit the list of electronic payment platforms that are shared in Venezuela, as both companies announced to their users through social networks.

The measure urges its users of the South American nation to withdraw funds before February 20. To date only the withdrawal service will be enabled and the deposit option has been suspended.

Although more details of what happened are unknown, both Neteller and Skrill tweeted that the measure responds to a “business decision“. The tweet was published after receiving numerous messages from customers requesting a justification for the fact.

Neteller and Skrill services will be suspended not only in Venezuela but in Zimbabwe were users also received the same email with the respective limitations, leaving only the withdrawal service until April 20.

Given the shock experienced in the networks by such news, many users took advantage of the moment to clarify that cryptocurrencies could help the affected people by driving the demand for greater adoption of bitcoin.

 K. Villarroel

La entrada Skrill and Neteller will stop providing service in Venezuela apareció primero en Bitfinance.