Opera: Difference between revisions

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Between 2019 and 2020, Opera released multiple short-term loaning apps in developing countries, including OKash and OPesa.<ref name="spacebar">{{Cite web|url=https://www.spacebar.news/stop-using-opera-browser/|title=Stop using Opera Browser and Opera GX|date=2024-01-24|first=Corbin|last=Davenport|work=Spacebar|access-date=2025-11-02}}</ref> These apps were made available in Nigeria, Kenya and India and would let users take short-term loans. However, the interest rates on those loans ranged from 365-876% per year, and loan terms from 7-29 days. Opera also falsely advertised longer loan terms and lower interest rates in the app descriptions, because the Google Play Store had rules against predatory loan services.

In addition, OKash and OPesa asked for permission to the phone contacts during the setup process, violating the user's privacy.{{Clarify}} The service would also recur to scare-tactics by sending threatening messages to the user's contacts when a borrower was late on their payments.

In addition, OKash and OPesa asked for permission to the phone contacts during the setup process, violating the user's privacy.{{Clarify|how}} The service would also recur to scare-tactics by sending threatening messages to the user's contacts when a borrower was late on their payments.

The money from these loan apps amounted to 42.5% of Opera's revenue by mid-2019, meaning that Opera was making profit from scamming people in developing countries.<ref name="qz">{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/africa/1788351/operas-okash-opesas-predatory-lending-in-nigeria-india-kenya|title=A Chinese super app is facing claims of predatory consumer lending in Nigeria, Kenya and India|first=Yomi|last=Kazeem|date=2022-07-20|access-date=2025-11-02}}</ref>

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 Between 2019 and 2020, Opera released multiple short-term loaning apps in developing countries, including OKash and OPesa.<ref name="spacebar">{{Cite web|url=https://www.spacebar.news/stop-using-opera-browser/|title=Stop using Opera Browser and Opera GX|date=2024-01-24|first=Corbin|last=Davenport|work=Spacebar|access-date=2025-11-02}}</ref> These apps were made available in Nigeria, Kenya and India and would let users take short-term loans. However, the interest rates on those loans ranged from 365-876% per year, and loan terms from 7-29 days. Opera also falsely advertised longer loan terms and lower interest rates in the app descriptions, because the Google Play Store had rules against predatory loan services.
-In addition, OKash and OPesa asked for permission to the phone contacts during the setup process, violating the user's privacy.{{Clarify}} The service would also recur to scare-tactics by sending threatening messages to the user's contacts when a borrower was late on their payments.
+In addition, OKash and OPesa asked for permission to the phone contacts during the setup process, violating the user's privacy.{{Clarify|how}} The service would also recur to scare-tactics by sending threatening messages to the user's contacts when a borrower was late on their payments.
 The money from these loan apps amounted to 42.5% of Opera's revenue by mid-2019, meaning that Opera was making profit from scamming people in developing countries.<ref name="qz">{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/africa/1788351/operas-okash-opesas-predatory-lending-in-nigeria-india-kenya|title=A Chinese super app is facing claims of predatory consumer lending in Nigeria, Kenya and India|first=Yomi|last=Kazeem|date=2022-07-20|access-date=2025-11-02}}</ref>