WhatsApp, the world’s leading messaging app, will start displaying advertisements in its Updates tab, marking a major shift in Meta Platforms’ monetisation strategy.

The company confirmed in a blog post on Monday that ads will appear only in the Updates section, which includes Status updates and Channels, used daily by around 1.5 billion people.

WhatsApp stressed that personal chats remain ad-free, and end-to-end encryption ensures private messages, calls, and group interactions are not used for advertising.

“The personal messaging experience on WhatsApp isn’t changing,” the company said. “Messages, calls, and statuses are end-to-end encrypted and cannot be used for ads.”

This change marks a departure from WhatsApp’s decade-long ad-free policy. Founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton opposed advertisements when the app launched in 2009, citing user privacy concerns. Even after Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014, the commitment to an ad-free platform was reiterated. Both founders eventually left Meta over disagreements regarding monetisation and data policies.

Meta now aims to monetise WhatsApp’s 2.5 billion users, balancing revenue growth with privacy. Ads will be targeted using limited user data such as age, location, language, and followed Channels, while personal messages remain private.

The company also introduced three new revenue tools:

Ads in the Updates tab – allowing brands to reach audiences via Status and Channels.

Paid subscriptions for Channels – enabling creators to charge followers for exclusive updates.

Promoted Channels – businesses and public figures can pay for greater visibility.

Meta continues to rely heavily on advertising, generating $164.5 billion in 2025, with $160.6 billion coming from ads on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. CEO Mark Zuckerberg called WhatsApp and Messenger the company’s “next billion-user monetisation platforms”, focusing on business messaging, in-app commerce, and creator tools.

Analysts view the ad introduction as a turning point for WhatsApp, long considered a “sleeping giant” in Meta’s portfolio.

“WhatsApp has immense commercial potential, especially in developing markets,” said digital analyst Lebo Maseko. “Controlled advertising could test whether monetisation can coexist with user trust.”

While offering financial potential, the new ad model risks alienating users who value WhatsApp’s simplicity and privacy. Meta plans a gradual global rollout and will monitor feedback closely to maintain trust while evolving the platform.

A French trade group representing authors and screenwriters has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging widespread copyright violations.

The Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers (SACD), a non-profit that represents roughly 60,000 writers for cinema, TV, theatre, and comedy, announced on Thursday that it had launched legal action in Paris.

“TikTok has, for many years, used protected works from the SACD repertoire without authorisation and never offered fair compensation. It also failed to remove works we requested,” SACD said in a statement.

The suit highlights the use of content from major French films such as “Asterix and Obelix”, cult comedy “Brice de Nice”, animated series, and comedy sketches.

SACD said it tried for four years to resolve the matter through discussions with TikTok. The group is now seeking legal redress for financial losses incurred by authors whose works were exploited on the platform.

The writers are also demanding transparency from TikTok regarding its financials to ensure fair compensation for copyrighted works.

TikTok, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, has its European headquarters in Ireland. The platform has faced growing regulatory scrutiny in Europe. In May, it was fined €530 million ($600 million) by the EU for illegally transferring European user data to China.

In the United States, former President Donald Trump recently brokered a deal requiring TikTok to sell its American operations to investors aligned with him.

TikTok did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment on the SACD lawsuit. The first court hearing is scheduled for March 18, 2026.

Moniepoint Inc. has launched Nigeria’s first artificial intelligence-powered chatbot aimed at transforming the informal economy.

The innovation, unveiled in Abuja, has drawn praise from the federal government for advancing financial inclusion and supporting millions of small businesses nationwide.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, lauded Moniepoint’s decade-long commitment to empowering informal traders, artisans, and digital entrepreneurs. He noted that the informal economy remains vital to Nigeria’s economic resilience.

“Millions of Nigerians power commerce daily in ways unseen yet indispensable to our economy,” Shettima said. “This report provides an important window into the challenges and opportunities within the sector and serves as a foundation for inclusive, evidence-based policymaking.”

Shettima added that the Tinubu administration prioritizes the informal sector as a key driver of national growth and innovation. He commended Moniepoint for building a strong financial ecosystem that supports micro and small enterprises across Africa.

The AI chatbot, built on advanced Large Language Model (LLM) technology, simplifies access to financial and business information through interactive, conversational engagement. It aims to help small business owners and informal traders better understand key aspects of taxation, savings, and business operations.

Moniepoint MFB Managing Director Babatunde Olofin said the chatbot demonstrates the company’s mission to empower Nigeria’s informal operators with tools for sustainable growth.

“This year’s report dives deeper into unemployment, taxation, savings behavior, and business operations within the informal economy,” Olofin said.

“These insights remind us that the informal economy is not a shadow of our nation’s progress it is its pulse.”

The event also marked Moniepoint’s 10th anniversary. The fintech firm now serves over 10 million active businesses and individuals, processing more than one billion transactions monthly and facilitating payments exceeding $22 billion.

Moniepoint’s latest innovation reinforces its reputation as one of Africa’s fastest-growing financial technology firms, bridging the gap between informal enterprises and digital inclusion.