Sharia compliant internet platforms will soon be more widely available if all goes as planned with Asian Muslim technology companies which are advancing unique sharia compliant technologies that will “uphold Islamic values.”
The idea of “Muslim Tech” is expected to vigorously expand….
“The prospect of a Muslim Google or Facebook is not unrealistic. The Islamic digital economy will total $277 billion by 2020, according to Thomson Reuters data. Competition in the market is expected to intensify as Asian, Middle Eastern and European companies enter the fray.”
The UK has already advanced marketing of Muslim apps and Muslim retail services; to go right along with its 85 sharia courts.
The UK has also been a ‘leader’ in embracing Islamic finance. “Outside the Middle East and Asia, the UK is the leading hub for the sector and was the first non-Muslim majority country to issue a sovereign Islamic bond, known as sukuk, of £200 million in 2014.”
The West is rapidly becoming Islamized.
“Asian Muslim tech startups hope to lure Islam’s 1.8bn followers” by Jun Suzuki, Nikkei Asian Review, May 22, 2019:
JAKARTA — The internet can be difficult for Muslims to navigate as forbidden content is rife, but many Asian startups are providing their own answers to Facebook and Google for Islam’s 1.8 billion followers by offering platforms that are Sharia-compliant.
Investors are increasingly interested in so-called Muslim tech – companies and platforms that offer services that fall within Sharia law and that uphold Islamic values.
“Muslims represent almost 24% of the world’s population, but they are only generating 8% of the world’s GDP,” said Thomas G. Tsao, founding partner of venture capital firm Gobi Partners. “There is a mismatch of opportunities.” The Pew Research Center estimates that Islam will have the largest following among major religions by the end of this century.
That this market is huge has not escaped investors. Gobi already invests in Sorabel, an Indonesian fashion startup, and HolidayMe, a Dubai-based online travel site that offers bookings for hotels equipped with women-only pools and prayer halls, for example. In March, Gobi announced the launch of a $20 million fund to back early-stage startups in Pakistan.
Another company that has attracted the attention of investors is SalamWeb which made its debut in Malaysia in January. The browser displays warnings about websites that are not in keeping with Islam’s teachings. For example, if a user enters the search word “casino,” the browser will display a warning about inappropriate content. The app also offers chat features and a compass that points to Mecca.
The company plans to invest about $100 million to expand into e-commerce and financial technology. “It’s going to be an Islamic Google or Facebook,” Hasni Zarina, managing director at developer Salam Web Technologie, said.
“This browser is very convenient for us as Muslims. When we use SalamWeb, it feels more convenient and safe,” said Najimiah, a Malaysian who has been using SalamWeb.
SalamWeb’s developer was keen to stress that the browser does not censor objectionable content but gives users the choice to bypass warnings. The company claimed that this function reduces the chances of users accidentally visiting a pornographic or gambling website, which means that SalamWeb offers a service for anyone who wants a higher level of internet safety.
Other companies have also created apps focused on Muslim practices. For example, a company has created an app that alerts Muslims when it is sundown during Ramadan so that they can break fast. Notifications of these kinds have become central to apps that cater to Muslims, and such programs have proliferated in Indonesia.
Umma, a service that gathers popular articles and videos for Muslims on smartphones, was rolled out….