Dispatches from the ground: August 7, 2024

Africa

Meta and Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission are in a battle over data privacy on WhatsApp. In late July, the commission fined Meta $220 million for forcing Nigerian WhatsApp users to abide by different privacy policies than those followed by European users. Days later, Meta rejected the fine and threatened to exit Nigeria. The commission then responded in a post on X, calling it “a strategic move aimed at influencing public opinion and potentially pressuring the FCCPC to reconsider its decision.” —?David Adeleke from Abuja

South Asia

More on Meta: India has become the largest market for Meta AI usage. The AI-based assistant, which allows WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook users to ask questions and generate images, was launched in India just a couple of months ago. Meta AI is available in 20 countries and eight languages. “People have used Meta AI for billions of queries since we first introduced it,” said Meta’s chief financial officer, Susan Li, during an earnings call. “We are seeing particularly promising signs on WhatsApp in terms of retention and engagement, which has coincided with India becoming our largest market for Meta AI usage.”?— Itika Sharma Punit from Warsaw

China

As the Summer Olympics get underway, social media users in China are taking to platforms like Sina Weibo and Xiaohongshu to throw their support behind star athletes who allege “disrespect” from Western rivals. One such athlete is Pan Zhanle, who — after breaking the world record in the men’s 100m freestyle — claimed in an interview that Australian and U.S. competitors behaved disrespectfully, snubbing him and deliberately splashing water on China’s coaches. Fans on social media are indignant, with many commenters accusing Western athletes of being “arrogant” and “petty.” — Joanna Chiu from Vancouver

Latin America

Argentina’s government announced the creation of the Artificial Intelligence Applied to Security Unit, an agency that will monitor social media, apps, and the dark web. The unit will use machine learning algorithms to predict and prevent crimes, and “patrol extensive areas” using drones. President Javier Milei — who traveled to Silicon Valley in May to meet with OpenAI, Apple, Google, and Meta — is intent on turning Argentina into a key global AI hub. Martín Becerra, a communications technology professor, wrote on X that the new unit “contradicts various articles in the National Constitution.” — Karla Zabludovsky from Mexico City

Southeast Asia

Social media firms with more than 8 million users in Malaysia will be required to apply for a license to operate. This is to tackle scams, bullying, and sexual crimes online more effectively, authorities said. Malaysia has ordered Meta and TikTok to remove a record number of posts this year. The new regulation is a “direct attempt to exert control over social media platforms, which could have far-reaching implications for freedom of expression,” said the advocacy group Article 19. —?Rina Chandran from Bangkok