WhatsApp to start sharing user data with Facebook

After WhatsApp was bought by Facebook in 2014, users worried that the messaging app's strong stance on privacy might be compromised. Co-founder Jan Koum hoped to stem these fears, writing in a blog post at the time: "Respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA, and we built WhatsApp around the goal of knowing as little about you as possible." Today, though, the company is loosening some of its own restrictions, and has announced it will begin sharing a limited amount of user data — including individuals' phone numbers — with parent company Facebook.

WhatsApp says that sharing this information means Facebook can offer better friend suggestions by mapping users' social connections across the two services, and deliver more relevant ads on the social network. Additional analytics data from WhatsApp will also be shared to track usage metrics and fight spam.

The messaging app says it also wants to explore how businesses can use WhatsApp to contact customers. It gives the example of a bank warning a user about a potentially fraudulent transaction, or notifications from airlines about delayed flights, and says that in order to test the features it needs to update its privacy policy. Facebook has already been exploring these sorts of use-cases with Messenger, and WhatsApp suggested it would follow the same path earlier this year. WhatsApp says that users will be able to "manage these communications," and that this won't lead to third-party banner ads on the service.

Despite these assurances, WhatsApp's users are still likely to feel annoyed that the company is sharing information with Facebook. Part of the app's popularity has always come from its unobtrusive (and unprofitable) business model, which gives users an easy way to communicate without using their data to serve ads. 

WhatsApp's commitment to user privacy has even brought it into conflict with law enforcement, with a Brazilian court temporarily banning the app in July for refusing to hand over messages (it argued it couldn't if it wanted to).

WhatsApp is keen to preempt criticism, and says that although it's changing its privacy policy, it continues to support end-to-end encryption. "Even as we coordinate more with Facebook in the months ahead, your encrypted messages stay private and no one else can read them," says the company in a blog post.

 "Not WhatsApp, not Facebook, nor anyone else. We won’t post or share your WhatsApp number with others, including on Facebook, and we still won't sell, share, or give your phone number to advertisers."

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“76” Film Makes its World Debut At 41st Toronto International Film Festival® (TIFF)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Toronto, On August 18, 2016 - ’76” is the first all-Nigerian, made in Nigeria movie by Award Winning Director Izu Ojukwu chosen to have its own world premiere at the prestigious 41st Toronto International Film Festival® (TIFF).  “76” Inspired by True Events, Six years after the civil war, a young officer from the middle belt gets entangled in a romantic relationship with a beautiful O-level student from the Southeastern part of Nigeria. Their budding romance is almost ruptured by endless military postings. Now heavily pregnant, her walls crumble when the news of her husband’s involvement in a botched coup attempt hits the headlines. 76’ celebrates the quality of the true African woman by exploring the usually invisible pain of a soldier’s wife; it highlights the enduring Nigerian cultural values of courage, resilience, patience, loyalty, faith and family. It is visually pure, emotionally engaging and amorously therapeutic.


“76” received an endorsement by the Nigerian Head of State who succeeded the assassinated Murtala Muhammed at the time, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, who later went on to become a two term President making him both a military and civilian leader of the largest black nation in the world. He described ’76” as “the best view of one of the worst times in our Nations history. A must watch and an insight that was long overdue. Watching the attention to detail and hearing my own voice in February 1976, brought out both sweet and sour memories as Murtala Muhammed was not only my boss, he was my friend.” Set during the era of military assassinations and political unrest in Nigeria, “76” also had the full approval and endorsement of the Nigerian Army and the Murtala Muhammed family, and was shot inside the confines of a military base, a first in Nigeria’s cinematic history.  It comes 40 years after the actual events, and follows four years of work by the multi award winning Director Izu Ojukwu and the production teams of Adonis Production and Princewill’s Trust.



“76” Stars Award Winning Actors Rita Dominic, Ramsey Nouah, Daniel K Daniel, Actor & Reality-Show host Chidi Mokeme, Actor & President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria Ibinabo Fiberesinma as well as well as other Rising Stars.  “76” will have its World Premiere Screening on Sunday September 11th. at the prestigious Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto with Key Cast in attendance.



The 41st Toronto International Film Festival® shines its spotlight on City of Lagos, Nigeria, for the eighth edition of the City to City programme. “We wanted to show audiences who were not there, what it was like and the impact of the army on the people’s psyche. A lot of water has gone under the bridge over 40 years. This is a filmmaker’s small contribution to some of that healing.” I am honored we were selected first by Toronto.” said Executive Producer Tonye Princewill mentioned.

 

About TIFF

TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world, through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution program Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $189 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

Film Credits:
Director: Izu Ojukwu

Starring: Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Chidi Mokeme, Ibinabo F iberisima, Larry Williams, Adonija Owiriwa, Daniel K. Daniel, Memry Savanhu, Pat Nebo, Debo Oguns, Adams Shuaibu

Executive Producers: Adonijah Owiriwa and Tonye Princewill

Follow “76” Film

tiff.net/films/76  

76themovie.com/
 
facebook.com/76TheMovie
 
twitter.com/76themovieng

instagram.com/76_The_Movie

#76TheMovie

Obasanjo Reflects on 1976 Coup, Says Everyone Thought It will End Nigeria ( Thisday Online)

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, monday reflected on the 1976 coup, saying that Nigerians thought it would end the nation called Nigeria.

Obasanjo explained that the misconception stemmed from the fact that most of those involved in the coup were Christians and for killing the Head of State, who was a Muslim, were seen as a bad signal for Nigeria.

The former president who was a host in the cast and crew of the yet-to-be released film, ‘1976’ (‘76) at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, said there were misconceptions about the coup, which upturned the political situation at the that time.

According to Obasanjo, the killing of a Muslim on a Friday by a gang thought to be Christians, particularly when we remembered the first coup, which upturned the political situation gave a bad signal. Where what will amount to; where will it lead us to and where will it lead us out? These were what Nigerians had in mind.

While describing the film which abridged parts were shown as “a mixture of sweet and sorrow”, Obasanjo commended the team for the production.

He said: “It will make us to remind ourselves not to go back to the dark days, which put us in go-no-go situation.”

He added: “We can have more of this, as there are more national issues that can be portrayed. We are capable of the best and that is what this film has shown,” he said.
However, the Executive Producer of the film, Prince Tonye Princewill, said the cast and crew of ‘1976’ were on tour of the country to seek support and endorsement for the film, billed to premier in November.

“The youth of today need to have a sense of the past, hence the resolve to have the film 1976, which is simply called ‘76”, he said.

Princewill said the visit to Obasanjo was important, “considering his position at that time in the country. We deemed it fit to come and show him the film and curry his endorsement, which as you can see we have got,” he said.

Culled from ThisDay Online

Introducing: The Smartlaj Affiliate Mobile eStore

 

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For the first time in Nigeria's ECommerce environment, the affiliate marketing concept has been taken to new heights by an indegenous brand - Smartlaj Affilliate EStore.

Managed by a medical doctor-turned Information Marketer, Dr. Adesola Lajide, the Smartlaj Affiliate eStore boasts of a pot-pourri of diverse offerings.


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