TechPression

Tag: Research

  • Morocco invests MAD 1 billion to advance phosphate extraction and scientific research

    Morocco’s Ministry of Higher Education, and OCP Group, a state-owned enterprise, launched a major program to support research, development, and innovation (PNARDI).

    The program was announced at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir on April 7.

    The partnership, backed by a MAD 1 billion budget, aims to place scientific research and innovation at the heart of Morocco’s development strategy, strengthening the country’s global competitiveness.

    MAD 1 billion for Moroccan research and innovation

    Under the newly launched PNARDI, MAD 1 billion will be invested between 2025 and 2028. The program is co-funded by the Ministry and OCP Group, with 20 percent of the total (MAD 200 million) dedicated to bringing Moroccan experts abroad into the national innovation ecosystem.

    This partnership includes the OCP Foundation, the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), and UM6P, which will provide world-class labs and research facilities to accelerate impact.

    PNARDI targets strategic sectors and young talent

    PNARDI is designed to boost Morocco’s standing in global science by focusing on key areas like water, phosphate extraction and processing, renewable energy, food security, health, and even the humanities and social sciences. The initiative aligns with Morocco’s vision of leveraging science for economic sovereignty and sustainable development.

    To drive these ambitions, the PNARDI program features three complementary tracks. The Ibn Battouta program supports young researchers and cultivates the next generation of scientific leaders. The Ibn Albanna program focuses on priority innovation themes that align with national strategic goals.

    Meanwhile, the Nefzawiya program aims to bridge the gap between research and the economy by turning scientific breakthroughs into real-world applications that generate value and drive growth.

    A national effort for global competitiveness

    The initiative reflects a growing national commitment to scientific excellence and innovation. With support from leading institutions like UM6P and CNRST, and through shared funding and strategic planning, Morocco is creating a collaborative ecosystem where research fuels development.

    This first-of-its-kind national program is more than just a funding scheme—it’s a signal that Morocco is ready to compete globally, drive innovation, and tap into the full potential of its researchers at home and abroad.

     

  • Research suggests Instagram is Hub for child abuse

    Research suggests Instagram is Hub for child abuse

    Researchers at Stanford University and the Wall Street Journal have discovered that pedophile networks utilize Instagram as their primary platform for promoting and selling content featuring child sexual abuse.

    These networks, operated by individuals who appear to be minors, openly advertise self-generated material depicting child sexual abuse for sale. 

    The researchers note that Instagram’s recommendation algorithms and direct messaging features facilitate the connection between buyers and sellers within these networks. 

    Read also: US fines Amazon $25m over child privacy violations

    How the study was conducted on Instagram

    A simple search for sexually explicit keywords related to children leads to accounts that use such terms to promote content showing the sexual abuse of minors. 

    These profiles often pretend to be run by the children themselves, employing explicitly sexual pseudonyms. While not explicitly stating that they sell these images, the accounts include menus with options, sometimes specifying particular sexual acts. 

    In addition to child sexual abuse material, the researchers also found offers for videos involving bestiality and self-harm. 

    The report mentions that at a certain price, children can be arranged for in-person meetings. 

    In Meta’s response, the article states that the parent company of Instagram has not yet responded to a comment request. 

    However, it reports that Meta acknowledges issues with its security services and has established a task force to address these concerns. 

    The implications of the findings

    The implications of the findings reported by Stanford University and the Wall Street Journal regarding the use of Instagram by pedophile networks for promoting and selling content featuring child sexual abuse are significant and concerning.

    Some of the key implications include:

    Platform Exploitation: The report highlights how pedophile networks exploit the features of Instagram, such as recommendation algorithms and direct messaging, to facilitate the distribution and sale of child sexual abuse material. This raises questions about the effectiveness of Instagram’s content moderation and security measures in combating such illicit activities.

    Increased Access and Reach: The prominence of Instagram as a platform for pedophile networks indicates that there is a significant audience and demand for such disturbing content. The accessibility and ease of connecting buyers and sellers through Instagram’s features contribute to the expansion and reach of these networks, potentially exposing more individuals to harmful content and perpetuating the demand for it.

    Exploitation of Minors: The report highlights the disturbing fact that some of these networks appear to be operated by minors themselves, who advertise and sell self-generated child sexual abuse material. This reveals the deeply concerning cycle of exploitation, where minors are both victims and perpetrators, further emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions and protections for vulnerable individuals.

    Content Visibility and Searchability: The ease with which explicit and abusive content can be found on Instagram through simple keyword searches is alarming. The fact that accounts openly use these terms to promote content showcasing sexual abuse of minors underscores the urgent need for stronger content moderation and keyword filters to prevent such material from circulating and being readily accessible.

    Responsibility of Platform Owners: The involvement of Meta, Instagram’s parent company, raises questions about the company’s responsibility in monitoring and addressing the issue. The report indicates that Meta acknowledges problems within its security services and has established a task force to tackle the raised concerns. This highlights the importance of holding platform owners accountable for maintaining safe and secure environments for their users.

    Legal and Ethical Concerns: The discovery of offers for videos involving bestiality and self-harm alongside child sexual abuse material further exposes the existence of a broader spectrum of illegal and harmful content on Instagram. This poses significant legal and ethical challenges for both platform owners and law enforcement agencies in terms of enforcement, prevention, and the protection of vulnerable individuals.

  • Researchers Bemoan African SMEs’ 7% technology use

    Researchers Bemoan African SMEs’ 7% technology use

    A new report by the International Financial Corporation (IFC) and World Bank says less than 7% of African microenterprises utilize smartphones and computers for their companies, while 71% see no need for them.

    Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania were surveyed for the report.

    The poll results support digital technology adoption. The survey found that microenterprises using smartphones and computers had 2.8 times more productivity, 6.0 times higher sales, and 1.9 times more employees than non-users.

    African workplaces also had a gender imbalance in digital technology use. At small enterprises, men were 3.3 times more likely to use computers and 2.4 times more likely to use the Internet to discover suppliers. Younger workers are 1.6 times more likely than older workers to use smartphones.

    Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa are increasingly embracing technology, which has altered the way they conduct business. Small companies on the continent have little choice but to adopt digital alternatives as a result of the pandemic and the rise of mobile phones and the internet.

    Africa’s 44 million small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) contribute to the continent’s social and economic development. They employ 80% of the continent’s workforce. Experts advocate using modern technologies to help African firms attain their full potential.

    Yet, the majority of African microenterprises are developers. 

    Read also: Moni, Nigerian fintech, offers business loans to African SMEs

    Why don’t African SMEs use technology?

    The study revealed that 71% of respondents had “no need” for digital technologies, while 35% claimed they were too expensive. 35% indicated they couldn’t use the technology.

    Why don’t African businesses use internet-enabled technology? Lack of high-speed internet, microfinance, infrastructure, and gender inequalities were highlighted in the report. Internet connectivity persists.

    Unavailability was reported by 20%. According to the International Telecommunications Union, 40% of Africans have internet connections (ITU). Access may not be the main driver of low utilization rates, according to the IFC-World Bank report.

    Mobile and high-speed internet is used by 22% of Sub-Saharan Africans, three times more than microenterprises. It said, “Sub-Saharan Africa’s high-speed internet availability has progressively expanded from 25% in 2010 to 84% by 2021.”

    According to the research, internet coverage has increased, but connectivity has not. In 2021, 74% of Africans with high-speed mobile internet remained offline.

    According to the GSMA’s “State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2022” report [pdf], 200 million Nigerians and other Sub-Saharan Africans lack mobile broadband. According to research, Africa needs $100 billion to have reliable internet connectivity by 2030.

    NITDA, Unicorn sign MOU to support local IT startups, SMEs 

    African businesses face other tech adoption barriers

    The research also noted that only 3% of businesses had received microfinance. Smartphone use was 18% higher among borrowed firms. Based on this research, African SMEs’ greatest financial challenges are accessibility and cost. Affordability is the cost of money for businesses to borrow or invest. SME development has been suggested using blended financing.

    Also, there is a problem with infrastructure. The IFC-World Bank report found that 44% of companies and 69% of agribusinesses lacked electricity. According to the African Development Bank, 40% of African countries have electricity, while over 640 million Africans do not.

    Making utilities financially viable, integrating national utilities and grids, exposing electrification efforts to private sector investments and innovations, and mobilizing strong political commitment are four ambitious strategies the World Bank recommended to overcome Africa’s energy access crisis.