Crowwe

  • Adamu Garba claimed Crowwe App was removed for an update but this is false

    Claim: The CEO of Crowwe application and one-time presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba, has claimed that he asked Google to take down his social media platform from Google Playstore because he needed to update the App.

    Verification has shown that an Application must not necessarily be removed for Updates and Google is not in the best position to remove apps for updates. Google only removes applications that are perceived to have violated its policy.

    Full story

    Following the announcement of a ban on Twitter by the Nigerian Government, the Chief Executive Officer, IPI Group, Adamu Garba, recently presented the Crowwe app as an alternative to the microblogging website.

    Meanwhile a publication by Peoples Gazette on Monday, June 14, 2021, stated that Google had deleted Crowwe App days after the federal government suspended Twitter.

    The publication noted that the app has since received terrible reviews which could be responsible for its disappearance on the play store app.

    Screenshots of  Peoples Gazette publication and Twitter post

    In reaction to the publication, Garba made a statement on Tuesday the 15th of June 2021, that he asked Google to take Crowwe down because he needed to update the App.

    Garba in an interview with The PUNCH, on Monday, said there was a bug affecting the contact list information, so he had to submit a support report to take it down which was done, and the app would be back latest by Tuesday Morning.

    Screenshot of Punch publication on Monday

    Verification

    To verify this claim, Dubawa visited Google play store on Tuesday to check if the app has been uploaded but it appears the App is still missing.

    This prompted Dubawa to verify if the App needs to be taken down to fix technical issues.

    An App Developer, the co-founder/CEO of Elesaro, Johnpaul Nwobodo, said an application must not be removed before any update, as users can download the update on Play store.

    Adding that, even if the App must be removed for any technical update, it is the developer or the company that is meant to remove the app not the host, in other words “not Google”.

    Dubawa checked on Google Play Console help, and it revealed that the Developer just needs to submit the  app bundle or APK  and Once the update is published, it will be distributed to existing users.

    Another look at a programming site, Venkatramanan Ramasubramanian, a mobile application developer said that a company does not necessarily have to remove an application before updating it.

    Google removes applications that are perceived to have violated its policy.

    Has Crowwe App Violated Google Policy?

    Recall that Dubawa verified a claim by critics, that Crowwe’s Terms and Conditions were copied from another app, Spotify and it turned out to be true. Dubawa checked some of the reviews from the app users and found one threatening complain by Hollarisky, on the 06/14/2021, to sue play Store

     

    Screenshot of Hollarisky’s complain

    Dubawa went on to study the Google Play store terms and policies and it states that Google can take down apps that  causes harm or liability to a user, third party, or Google — for example, by hacking, phishing, harassing, spamming, misleading others, or scraping content that doesn’t belong to you.

    Google Play store Policy reads “Once your app is removed, the published version of your app won’t be available on Google Play until a compliant update is submitted,” 

    “Until a policy violation has been fixed, don’t republish a removed app,”

    About Crowwe App

    Crowwe is a Nigerian multi-purpose app built to ensure privacy in instant messaging and financial transaction app that comes with a digital wallet that helps to transfer and receive money while chatting.

    The Crowwe app, which has been described as the Nigerian multi-purpose app, built to ensure privacy in instant messaging, ease mobile payment,  connect with friends and family while building business and life, has received the worst reviews, with a 1.1 Rating from the App store.

    Screenshot of App review

    Conclusion

    Dubawa’s Verification has shown that an Application must not necessarily be removed for Updates and Google is not in the best position to remove apps for updates. Google removes applications that are perceived to have violated its policy.

    As of the time of filing this report, the Crowwe App is still missing on play store. So this is to say that Adamu Garba’s claim that he asked Google to take down his social media platform from Google Playstore because he needed to update the code, is False

    The researcher produced this fact-check per the 2021 Kwame Karikari Fact-checking Fellowship partnership with JAY 101.9 FM Jos to facilitate the ethos of truth in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country

  • Is Adamu Garba’s Crowwe First Social Networking Platform in Africa as Claimed?

    Claim: Ex-presidential aspirant and CEO of IPI Solutions, Adamu Garba, recently claimed that Crowwe, an online interaction app built by his company, is the first social networking platform in Nigeria and in Africa in a post on his Facebook page.  

    The claim is false. There have been other social networking platforms built in Africa as early as 2005. 

    Full Story 

    Since its release in July 2020, the Crowwe app, developed by Gloomme Business Connection, a subsidiary of IPI Group Limited, has witnessed a lot of backlash from the Nigerian populace.

    On Google play store and Apple app store, Crowwe attracted a lot of disparaging remarks in the review section, largely due to Garba’s stance on controversial issues in the country’s socio-political landscape.

    An example is Garba’s stance on the Federal Government’s ban on microblogging platform, Twitter in Nigeria.

    While defending the government’s action, Garba had described the American microblogging and social networking service as “an insurrectionist tool” capable of undermining the sovereignty of the country.

    Also, in October 2020, during the nationwide #EndSARS protest, which was aimed at disbanding a unit of the Nigerian police force, Garba took a controversial stance by alleging that the protest had transformed into a political agitation capable of breaking law and order in the country while threatening to sue Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, for retweeting a link for donations to support the movement. 

    Screenshot of a review comment on the apple play store

    Screenshot of the ratings and review of Crowwe app on apple play store

    On June 14, 2021 it was observed the app was deleted from the Google Play store. Many had attributed this removal to the damning comments and low ratings on the app page, but the ex-presidential aspirant claimed that he was the one who asked Google to take down the app.

    In an interview with Punch, Garba claimed he asked Google to take down the app from Google Playstore because he needed to update the code.

    Garba stated that it was in a bid to make some improvements that he asked Google to take down the app.

    On June 15, 2021, Garba took to his Facebook page to give a personal explanation as to why there are a ‘million’ requests for his app to be taken off the playstore but maintained his former stance that the absence of the app on the play store had not resulted from low ratings.

    Garba listed five “crimes”, which he said, might be responsible for the backlash the app has received.

    However, in his listings, Garba mentioned that one of his “crime” was that his company built the first social networking application in Africa.

    His words, “…third Crime is that my company build the first social networking application in not just Nigeria but Africa, apparently, it did not suit the narrative that above all else, it was the Fulani man’s company that build (sic) the app…”

    Screenshot of Adamu Garba’s Facebook post.

    Verification 

    In verifying the claim, Dubawa searched the internet for similar platforms that had been built in Africa over the years.

    It was first discovered that as early as 2005, South Africa already had a social networking application known as MXit which was built by Herman Heunis.

    Heunis was born in a rural area in Namibia. He moved to South Africa where he went to Stellenbosch University in 1977 and started his vocation in computer programming 3 years after.

    He founded Mxit in 2005, growing it from a small company with a team of eight into an African technological giant with more than 100 employees with users in more than 120 countries around the world. 

    South Africa, MXit, a free instant messaging application with an estimated 7 million users, was described as the most popular local social networking platform. 

    Screenshot of MXit app on phones.

    MXit, just like other instant messaging apps, has the ability to receive messages offline. For feature phones, they have group chats, chat tabs, and offline messages, all on data-light (technology that consumes 10 times less mobile bandwidth). 

    For iOS 7, Mxit 7 has features like doodle and voice chat.

    The company was however sold off in 2012 to Alan Knott-Craig Jr. It later closed down in 2015. 

    Despite being a web-based social networking platform, Afroterminal was founded in 2009 by two Africans in diaspora, Chioma Anyanwu and Charles Akpom. 

    It was an African-focused social network that would provide a single online platform for Africans around the world to connect, share news and relevant information regarding the continent, discuss ideas for the continent’s socio-economic development and build virtual and personal relationships over the long term. 

    It allowed memberships from diverse countries – with regular members hailing from all 53 African countries.

    Another social networking platform built in Africa was 2go. The application was developed by 2go Interactive (Pty) Ltd in Cape Town, South Africa. It was created in 2007 by some students of University of Witwatersrand.

    It supports over 1,500 different devices, including feature phones, in addition to Android, BlackBerry OS and BlackBerry 10 smartphones. 

    2go is a chat-based mobile social network targeting users in emerging markets, particularly in Africa. 

    2go users message each other for free, meet new people and share updates and photos with friends and family.

    In Nigeria, Yookos a Christian-focused website, was founded in 2011 by the leader of Christ Embassy International, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, with the aim of conveying spiritual messages among members of Christ Embassy, in Africa. However, it penetrated beyond Africa as traffic steadily increased. 

    The website, thereafter, became popular and accommodated more people. In 2012, there appears to have been a deliberate push to extend the social network’s subscriber base beyond religion.

    Yookos was later developed into apps for smartphone devices where users can join communities, meet new people and follow topics of interest. 

    It also affords users a platform to buy and sell in their local marketplaces.

    By 2015, the KingChat App was built as a fast, simple and personal smartphone messenger that allows users to send messages. It allows users to send and receive messages, pictures, audio, location and video messages.

    From research, there have been many other social media applications built by Nigerians in Nigerians and Africa, even though some of them stopped being operational after a while, many others are still functional.

    Conclusion

    Crowwe is not Africa’s first social networking platform. There have been several social media applications built in Africa since 2005. However, there are possibilities, it is the first social media app built in Nigeria with an additional online payment system.

    The researcher produced this fact-check per the Dubawa 2021 Kwame KariKari Fellowship partnership with SaharaReporters to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.

  • Yes! Crowwe App’s Terms and Conditions largely copied from Spotify

    Claim: A Twitter user claims that the terms and conditions of the Crowwe application are the same with those of Spotify.

    The claim that Crowwe’s Terms and Conditions were copied from Spotify is TRUE as findings reveal similarities. Also, the link found in Crowwe’s Terms and Conditions redirects users to Spotify’s Terms and Conditions of Use.

    Full Text

    Amid the recent announcement of Twitter ban by the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria, former Nigerian presidential candidate, Adamu Garba, has named the  Crowwe application as the alternative to the microblogging website.

    In a statement on Friday, the federal government placed a ban on Twitter, saying the application undermines Nigeria’s corporate existence. This ban was greeted with outrage by Nigerians who felt the government had acted against the constitution which guaranteed freedom of expression.

    While some have devised other means of accessing Twitter, Adamu Garba, trended from Friday, the notion that the Crowwe application, could be an alternative.

    However, Twitter users have criticised the application on many grounds including its privacy policy. One other major criticism is the similarity of the terms and conditions with those of Spotify, a music streaming platform. 

    A Twitter user, Ego Beke (@rubylaren) wrote that the terms and conditions of the Crowwe App are the same with Spotify.

    “Check the Crowwe app’s terms and conditions. It’s the SAME thing as Spotify. They didn’t even bother editing. Like if you click on the hyperlink it redirects you to Spotify theft. What sort of pangolo app is that?”

    Excerpt of Ego Beke’s claim.

    Screenshot of ego Beke’s Twitter post.

    Another Twitter user Bukola (@bukiola) made the same claim with a 15-second video showing how a click on the terms and condition of the App leads to spotify’s page.

    Screenshot of Bukola’s Twitter post.

    Also on Saturday June 6, 2021, a Twitter post by Tayo Dips (@tayo_dips) reported the Crowwe App to Spotify for copying it’s Terms and Conditions and also called for a lawsuit against Crowwe for plagiarism.

    “Hi @Spotify I’d like to report an intellectual property theft. The app @CrowweApp (Gloome Business Connections Ltd) made an authorised copy of your terms & conditions, WORD for WORD, uploading it on App Stores.

    I think you should file a lawsuit for infringing copyright.”

    Excerpt of the Twitter post

    Screenshot of the Twitter post.

    Verification 

    To verify these claims, Dubawa downloaded the Crowwe App on Google PlayStore, to get details about its terms and conditions.

    After downloading, Dubawa was greeted with a landing page, which directed users to read and accept the App’s Privacy Policy and Terms and Services. It says: “Read our Privacy Policy. Tap Agree and Continue to accept the Terms of Services.

    Crowwe App’s landing page

    Reading through the platform’s Terms of Services, Dubawa observed that a link to the terms and conditions listed, redirected users to the Spotify Terms and Conditions of Use

    Crowwe’s Terms and Conditions

    This suggests that Crowwe’s Terms of Service were copied and edited from Spotify’s Terms and Conditions of Use. It appears the owners or developers of the Crowwe App must have forgotten to delete the Spotify hyperlink.

    Dubawa also observed that although they had been edited, many items on Crowwe’s Terms and Conditions such as its Limitation on Liability and Disclaimer of Warranties, bear similarities with items on Spotify’s Terms and Conditions of Use.

    A link in Crowwe’s Terms and Conditions redirects users to Spotify’s Terms and Conditions of Use

    Why Spotify, a Swedish music service launched in 2008, and the Crowwe app launched in 2020 are linked with so many similarities in their T and C, is a cause for concern, seeing their functions do not even align.

    Terms and Conditions of an App

    A Terms and Conditions agreement, also known as a T&C, Terms of Use or Terms of Service, is the legal backbone of the relationship between a mobile app and its users.

    This lists clauses that highlight the rules, requirements, restrictions and limitations that a user must agree to in order to use the mobile App.

    A Terms and Conditions is not mandatory like the Privacy policy under any laws or required by any app stores.

    Why Terms and Conditions?

    Terms and Conditions is beneficial to the business that owns the App and to the users.

    Here are some of these benefits for businesses:

    • You will be protected against abuses by users, such as copyright infringement, spamming of other users, and general misuse of your app
    • You can require arbitration over litigation, and even select the governing law to be used in the event of a legal issue
    • You maintain the right to terminate user’s accounts at any time you may need or want to
    • Your liability to users will be limited

    To enjoy the above benefits, specific clauses and the demand for users to agree to be bound by them should be made and clearly stated, so that it can be enforced where necessary.

    For the user, here are some of the benefits:

    • Users will get an explanation of their rights, rules they must follow, and what they can expect when using your app.
    • Helps users understand what is expected of them by explaining things like how payments must be made, what a user must refrain from doing, and how to reach customer support with any concerns or for assistance.

    How to develop T and Cs 

    T&Cs can be developed by the owner of the business, a lawyer or using that of others as models or templates but this must be customized to suit your business, product or service.

    There are also websites that help you generate templates like Tertempla’s terms and conditions generator, which makes it easy to create a Terms and Conditions agreement for your business. 

    What does copying another business’s T & C mean?

    Because T&C agreements are often complex, copying or borrowing another entity’s agreement is very tempting to save time and costs. Borrowing another’s T&C is common and generally legal, but doing so exposes your company to legal risks. One risk is that copying an agreement word-for-word is plagiarism and a violation of copyright law

    Although business terms and conditions may not be the most creative pieces, they still fall under the definition of literary works and as such are protected in law.

    Also, if you copy the T & C agreement of another business it is likely that differences in location, policies, and other areas can prevent their T&C from actually being effective.

    Conclusion

    The claim that Crowwe’s Terms and Conditions were copied from Spotify is TRUE as findings reveal that the link in Crowwe’s Terms and Conditions redirects to Spotify’s Terms and Conditions of Use.

    Also, some items in the Crowwe’s Terms and Conditions bear similarities with items on Spotify’s Terms and Conditions of Use.

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