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Saturday, 27 June 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Saturday, 27 June 2026
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Ghanaian press · Organization

Meta

Also known as: Facebook-owner Meta · Meta AI · parent company Meta · Meta boss · Facebook owner Meta · Facebook owner · Instagram-parent Meta · Facebook parent

Meta — technology company operating WhatsApp, Instagram, and AI platforms, recently ordered by EU to allow rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp.

2026-04-272026-06-27
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In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. April 2026

  2. Joy Online

    Meta is under pressure to explain why it cancelled a major contract with a company it was using to train AI, shortly after some of its Kenya-based workers alleged they had to view graphic content captured by Meta smart glasses. …

    Meta in row after workers who say they saw smart glasses users having sex lose jobs

  3. Joy Online

    Meta took the brunt of investor concerns on Wednesday over how the biggest US tech firms are spending massive sums on artificial intelligence (AI). …

    Meta shares slide as investors weigh Big Tech’s AI spending spree

  4. Business & Financial Times

    … To use a better anecdote: Think Meta. Think Twitter (now X). …

    Why technology, marketing alone don’t guarantee growth

  5. Joy Online

    Facebook-owner Meta’s acquisition of AI start-up Manus has been blocked by Chinese regulators. …

    China blocks Meta’s $2bn acquisition of AI start-up Manus

  6. Joy Online

    … With over 180,000 participants from more than 170 countries, 15,000 startups, 4,000 investors and 450+ speakers, including top-tier speakers from global giants like OpenAI, Meta, NASA and IBM, VivaTech offers a unique window into the future of business. …

    Europe’s largest technology event turns 10 – why Ghana’s business leaders should be in the room
World & Region

Trump vows 100% tariff on nations imposing digital services taxes

The News

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 100% import tariff on any European country introducing a digital services tax on American technology companies, warning the penalties would be applied immediately and supersede existing trade agreements. Britain's existing 2% Digital Services Tax, in place since 2020, raised over £800 million in 2024–25 from major US firms including Apple, Google, Meta, and Amazon.

4 hours ago · Joy Online →

Today

  1. Trump vows 100% tariff on nations imposing digital services taxes

    US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 100% import tariff on any European country introducing a digital services tax on American technology companies, warning the penalties would be applied immediately and supersede existing trade agreements. Britain's existing 2% Digital Services Tax, in place since 2020, raised over £800 million in 2024–25 from major US firms including Apple, Google, Meta, and Amazon.

    4 hours ago · Joy Online →

Wednesday 24 June

  1. Ghanaian startup launches WhatsApp AI sales automation platform

    A Ghanaian technology startup called Relay has launched an AI-powered platform that helps businesses automate sales and customer service through WhatsApp, allowing them to manage enquiries, process orders, and receive payments without a website or app. The platform targets small businesses across Africa and emerging markets where WhatsApp is widely used for commerce.

    24 June 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Trump administration presses Meta to submit AI models for voluntary review

    The Trump administration is requesting that Meta submit its AI models for voluntary government review to evaluate their capabilities and vulnerabilities, according to the New York Times. Meta is the only major U.S. AI developer that has not yet agreed to voluntarily share its models with the federal government for review, though Meta told Reuters it is working through the details and hopes to sign the agreement soon.

    24 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 23 June

  1. Indian entrepreneur Kunal Shah appointed to lead WhatsApp

    Meta has appointed Kunal Shah, founder of fintech company Cred, to lead WhatsApp, elevating him from a prominent figure in India's startup ecosystem to leadership of a global platform with over three billion users. The appointment follows Meta's $900 million investment in Cred and occurs as WhatsApp seeks to expand into payments, business services, and AI-powered products.

    23 June 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. YouTube settles teen's social media addiction lawsuit

    Google's YouTube has settled a social media addiction case brought by a 15-year-old in Florida who alleged the platform was designed to be addictive. The settlement comes as other social media firms face similar litigation over accusations of fuelling a mental health crisis among children.

    23 June 2026 · Joy Online →

  3. Oracle cuts 21,000 jobs globally to focus on AI

    Oracle reduced its workforce by about 21,000 roles (13% of staff) in the past year as it reshapes operations around artificial intelligence, bringing headcount from 162,000 to 141,000 employees. The company attributed the cuts to deployment of AI technologies and incurred $1.8bn in severance and restructuring costs.

    23 June 2026 · Joy Online →

  4. Meta pauses employee mouse-tracking program amid data security investigation

    Meta is pausing its internal Model Capability Initiative program, which tracked employee mouse movements and keystrokes for AI training, while investigating data security concerns after sensitive employee data was found accessible to all Meta staff. The company said it has no indication that data was improperly accessed but is investigating the exposure.

    23 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 22 June

  1. WhatsApp's Will Cathcart to step back; Kunal Shah takes lead

    WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart is leaving his role after nearly seven years, during which he scaled the platform to more than three billion users. Indian fintech founder Kunal Shah, who built Cred, will take over as head of WhatsApp.

    22 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 15 June

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

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to ban social media sites such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram for under-16s, with restrictions on gaming and livestreaming platforms where children can contact strangers. The government expects regulation by year-end and enforcement around spring.

    15 June 2026 · The Chronicle →

Saturday 13 June

  1. Elon Musk becomes world's first trillionaire, per Bloomberg

    Elon Musk achieved trillionaire status on Friday with an estimated net worth of about $1.11 trillion, according to Bloomberg, driven by a record-breaking SpaceX stock market debut and the rising value of his stakes in Tesla and SpaceX over the past six years.

    13 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 12 June

  1. SpaceX raises $75bn ahead of Friday stock market debut

    SpaceX has raised $75bn from financial firms ahead of its initial public offering on Friday, with shares priced at $135 each and an expected initial stock market value of nearly $1.8tn. If shares trade at or above that price, SpaceX will immediately become one of the most valuable public companies in the world.

    12 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 10 June

  1. EU orders Meta to restore WhatsApp access for rival AI chatbots

    The European Commission has ordered Meta to allow AI chatbots from rival firms to use WhatsApp for free while it investigates whether Meta's ban on third-party AI assistants from the WhatsApp for Business API breaches EU competition rules. Meta has reacted angrily and says it will appeal.

    10 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 4 June

  1. SpaceX targets $1.75tn valuation with record IPO

    Elon Musk's SpaceX has announced a suggested share price of $135 in advance of its planned initial public offering, valuing the company at approximately $1.75tn and aiming to raise $75bn—which would be a record for an IPO if achieved.

    4 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 3 June

  1. SpaceX values itself at $1.75tn ahead of stock debut

    Elon Musk's SpaceX said its shares should go for $135 each in an SEC filing, setting its valuation at roughly $1.75tn as it approaches an initial public offering set for next week. The move is unusual, as companies typically only share an estimated share price the day before trading begins.

    3 June 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Meta allows employees 30-minute tracking opt-outs after backlash

    Meta is scaling back its employee activity-tracking initiative after staff criticism, now allowing workers to pause data collection for up to 30 minutes at a time and request full exemptions from the program, which logs keystrokes and mouse clicks to train AI models.

    3 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 2 June

  1. London mayor backs social media ban for under-16s

    London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan is backing a ban on under-16s from social media as the only realistic way to address harms children face online, and warned that the manosphere's growing influence risks creating a "lost generation of young men." The position puts him ahead of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has promised action on children's online safety but has not committed to an outright ban.

    2 June 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Instagram AI chatbot exploited to hijack user accounts

    Instagram's AI support tool was tricked by hackers to give access to other users' accounts, allowing password changes after spoofing location. Meta said the issue has been resolved and impacted accounts are being secured, though it is unclear how many accounts were affected.

    2 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 1 June

  1. Florida sues OpenAI over ChatGPT safety risks

    Florida has become the first US state to sue OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging the company endangers children, aids mass shooters, and coaxes users into suicide in pursuit of profit. The lawsuit cites mass shootings at Florida State University and killings of University of South Florida doctoral students, in which the suspect allegedly asked ChatGPT about disposing of human bodies.

    1 June 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. China tightens overseas investment rules for tech, data, security

    China issued new regulations on Monday tightening control of overseas deals involving Chinese investors, technology, data, and national security, taking effect July 1. The rules provide a legal basis for forced unwinding of completed overseas transactions and ban cross-border talent transfers in sensitive sectors without approval, following Beijing's order to Meta to unwind its Manus acquisition.

    1 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 30 May

  1. Internet fragmenting into regional systems, Africa faces digital dependence risk

    The internet is gradually fragmenting into multiple regional systems shaped by geopolitics and national sovereignty concerns, with Africa facing particular risks of digital dependence and economic exclusion due to weak infrastructure ownership and governance leverage.

    30 May 2026 · Business & Financial Times →

Sunday 24 May

  1. Standard Chartered boss apologizes for "lower value human capital" remark

    Bill Winters, chief executive of Standard Chartered, apologized after describing employees vulnerable to AI replacement as "lower value human capital" at a conference. The bank expects back-office roles to be cut by about 15% over the next four years, roughly 7,800 of its 82,000 staff.

    24 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 22 May

  1. Meta tests new WhatsApp Status placement in Ghana

    WhatsApp is testing a new placement for Status updates at the top of the chats tab to help users catch updates before they disappear in 24 hours. Meta chose Ghana for the limited test because of the strong WhatsApp community in the country and the quality of feedback expected from users.

    22 May 2026 · Business & Financial Times →

Thursday 21 May

  1. Meta cuts up to 350 jobs in Ireland workforce

    Meta has notified employees in Ireland that up to 350 jobs are under threat as the company cuts 10% of its global workforce, roughly 8,000 staff. The tech firm, which employs about 1,800 people in Ireland, is increasing spending on artificial intelligence.

    21 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Meta settles Kentucky school district social media addiction lawsuit

    Meta has reached an amicable settlement with Breathitt School District in Kentucky, which had sued over mental health costs allegedly caused by the company's social media platforms. The case, a test case for over 1,000 US school districts pursuing similar claims, was settled alongside three other defendants: TikTok, Snap Inc, and Google's YouTube.

    21 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  3. Nvidia's record earnings disappoint investors despite strong AI demand

    US chip giant Nvidia reported record quarterly sales of $81.6bn and net income of $58.3bn, with first-quarter revenue up 85% year-on-year, yet shares fell 1.6% in after-hours trading as analysts suggest investors have become accustomed to stellar results and cite growing competition concerns.

    21 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  4. Ofcom says TikTok and YouTube not safe enough for children

    UK regulator Ofcom has criticised TikTok and YouTube for failing to commit to significant changes reducing harmful content for children, saying content feeds are "not safe enough" despite the platforms' existing safety features. Meta, Snap and Roblox agreed to stronger anti-grooming measures, and Ofcom said it would share concerns about ineffective age-rule enforcement with the government.

    21 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 20 May

  1. Meta CEO pledges no further company-wide layoffs in 2024

    Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told employees in an internal memo that he does not expect more company-wide layoffs this year, even as the company laid off 10% of its global workforce and transferred 7,000 employees to AI-related initiatives this week, affecting about 20% of the company's total workforce.

    20 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Meta plans job cuts, with 350 roles threatened in Ireland

    Meta has notified employees that it plans to cut 10% of its workforce, roughly 8,000 staff, with up to 350 jobs at risk in Ireland. The company has submitted a collective redundancy notification to Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and cited increased spending on artificial intelligence as a reason for the cuts.

    20 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Google releases smart glasses with AI after Google Glass failure

    Google is releasing smart glasses in autumn with a small camera and speakers that let users interact with Gemini AI hands-free, more than a decade after the failed Google Glass. The glasses, designed by Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, will work with both Android and iOS devices, with a future version featuring an in-lens display in development.

    19 May 2026 · Joy Online →

  2. Standard Chartered to cut 7,800 back-office roles by 2030

    Banking giant Standard Chartered announced it will cut more than 15% of its back-office roles, around 7,800, by 2030 as it increases its use of artificial intelligence and automation. The firm aims to move some affected workers to other roles in the business.

    19 May 2026 · Joy Online →

Meta — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute