The move has raised alarms about digital repression as the nation heads to the polls.
**Tanzania Blocks X Amid Concerns Over Digital Censorship**
**Tanzania Blocks X Amid Concerns Over Digital Censorship**
Tanzanian government restricts access to social media platform X citing laws against pornographic content.
Tanzania has officially announced the blocking of access to the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, due to concerns over the sharing of pornographic content. Information Minister Jerry Silaa highlighted that such content violates the nation's legal, cultural, and ethical standards. Reports indicate that access to X has been increasingly restricted over the past two weeks, coinciding with rising political tensions following a hack of the police's official account.
Civil rights groups, including the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), criticize the government's actions as indicative of a “troubling pattern of digital repression,” especially with presidential and parliamentary elections approaching in October. There are claims that the current government's approach is becoming more repressive, mirroring the actions of former President John Magufuli. The LHRC's statements noted a similar ban on X prior to the 2020 elections, branding the recent restrictions as alarming for digital freedom in Tanzania.
Although Silaa acknowledged the government's blockade of the platform, he also indicated that several officials remain active users of X, leading to accusations of inconsistency and undermining the government's credibility. Alongside X, popular applications like Clubhouse and Telegram have also become inaccessible without using virtual private networks (VPNs).
This decision follows X's prior announcement to permit consensually produced adult content. Silaa suggested that X's allowance of explicit material, including same-sex pornographic content, breached Tanzania's online content regulations. Reports from Netblocks confirmed that the platform was restricted as a response to a hack that hijacked the police account, posting offensive material and misinformation.
In recent weeks, activists from Kenya and Uganda who came to support Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu were subjected to deportations and allegations of inhumane treatment, including sexual assault. These incidents have been met with regional outrage, calling for investigations into the claims of abuse.
As the political landscape shifts under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who succeeded Magufuli, critics argue that she is adopting similar oppressive tactics while declaring her commitment to democracy and free elections. The government maintains a stance that Tanzania is a stable democracy and promises fair electoral proceedings.
Civil rights groups, including the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), criticize the government's actions as indicative of a “troubling pattern of digital repression,” especially with presidential and parliamentary elections approaching in October. There are claims that the current government's approach is becoming more repressive, mirroring the actions of former President John Magufuli. The LHRC's statements noted a similar ban on X prior to the 2020 elections, branding the recent restrictions as alarming for digital freedom in Tanzania.
Although Silaa acknowledged the government's blockade of the platform, he also indicated that several officials remain active users of X, leading to accusations of inconsistency and undermining the government's credibility. Alongside X, popular applications like Clubhouse and Telegram have also become inaccessible without using virtual private networks (VPNs).
This decision follows X's prior announcement to permit consensually produced adult content. Silaa suggested that X's allowance of explicit material, including same-sex pornographic content, breached Tanzania's online content regulations. Reports from Netblocks confirmed that the platform was restricted as a response to a hack that hijacked the police account, posting offensive material and misinformation.
In recent weeks, activists from Kenya and Uganda who came to support Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu were subjected to deportations and allegations of inhumane treatment, including sexual assault. These incidents have been met with regional outrage, calling for investigations into the claims of abuse.
As the political landscape shifts under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who succeeded Magufuli, critics argue that she is adopting similar oppressive tactics while declaring her commitment to democracy and free elections. The government maintains a stance that Tanzania is a stable democracy and promises fair electoral proceedings.
