Alec Hogg: 25m move to Telegram in last 72 hours

In 2004, my late colleague Barry Sargeant won the Taco Kuiper investigative journalism award for exposing a mini-Steinhoff called CS Holdings. What amazed us at the time was the vitriolic attacks from other media after we exposed CS chief Annette van der Laan's accounting shenanigans. Despite this support, she duly resigned two weeks after Sargent's story was published..Also read: Alec Hogg: Next move after Aus Govt blocks WBHO deal.Among the supporters was the editor (now a PR, go figure) of a (now defunct) tech magazine flew into me for my "disrespectful" interview with Van der Laan, a CA, who published massaged interim profits to secure a higher price on a BEE deal. Beeld's tech writer also defended her, singing the praises of a high flyer whose awards included businesswoman of the year..___STEADY_PAYWALL___.It's not just in SA where tech writers have a penchant for cosying up to the companies they report on and executives who run them. Two and a half years ago The Economist's correspondent in Silicon Valley penned a revealing expose' of how Big Tech manipulates reporters there: it's worth reading for an honest peek behind the way they cultivate the mirage..Also read: Alec Hogg: WhatsApp opens doors for competitors.Given this context, it's no surprise to see numerous pundits telling the rest of us not to be concerned by the controversial WhatsApp T&Cs. But many aren't buying the spin. Telegram founder Pavel Durov says in 72 hours, 25m new users joined the WhatsApp competitor, taking it past 500m active participants (graph above). Durov reckons "People no longer want to be held hostage by tech monopolies that seem to think they can get away with anything as long as their apps have a critical mass of users." Got a point, hasn't he?.To the BizNews alert service should you decide to join Telegram, click here: https://t.me/joinchat/NYr49VdBjM3dnyVuemDllQ.NB FOR YOUR WALL STREET JOURNAL ACCESS….Because of WSJ's credential requirements, to access their site your password MUST be at least 8 characters and include at least one letter and one number; and it MAY NOT not contain any special characters (ie #, !, @ etc). To maintain access, you MUST enter our partner's website at least once a month via BizNews Premium..TO LISTEN….Latest audio on BizNews Radio.…..(click on the link to access).Unpacking the WhatsApp, Facebook privacy rules – Geldenhuys Meet Cathie Wood – superstar fund manager who loves TeslaWill the rich be able to jump SA's Covid-19 vaccine queue? What it's like being bullied by Santam – SA boutique hotel ownerSlash your tax bill, generate steady returns from renewable energy .TO WATCH….Plenty to choose from on the BizNews TV channel on Youtube including….Nine things you can do to make 2021 a better year

Alec Hogg: 25m move to Telegram in last 72 hours

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