Investigations by the Tanzanian police are underway after hackers targeted government and private institutions on social media, prompting the restriction of access to X in the country. Officials assure the public that the issue is being taken seriously.
Tanzania Restricts Access to X Amid Hacking Incident Targeting Police Accounts
Tanzania Restricts Access to X Amid Hacking Incident Targeting Police Accounts
The Tanzanian government has imposed restrictions on the social media platform X following a hacking event that compromised several official accounts, including that of the police.
Access to the social media platform X has been restricted in Tanzania following a security breach that affected multiple official accounts, including those of the police. The incident on Tuesday saw the police's official page being hacked, resulting in the posting of inappropriate content and false claims regarding the president's death. In response, the police have disavowed the misinformation and initiated an investigation to uncover the culprits behind the attack.
On Wednesday, internet monitoring organization Netblocks indicated that X was largely "unreachable on major internet providers" within Tanzania, particularly in Dar es Salaam, the country's largest city. Users attempting to connect without virtual private networks (VPNs), which are illegal without explicit permission, found themselves unable to access the platform. However, some individuals in different regions reported successful logins. The government has not officially stated whether it is blocking access to X, although Information Minister Jerry Silaa has acknowledged the hacking incident, reassuring members of parliament that the compromised social media accounts have been secured.
The timing of these internet restrictions coincides with heightened tensions surrounding the deportation of notable Kenyan activists, who were barred from attending the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. President Samia Suluhu Hassan recently warned those from Kenya against interfering in Tanzanian affairs, referencing the deportation during a parliamentary address.
In a separate incident, two activists, Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire, were arrested in Dar es Salaam by suspected military officers, and their situation remains uncertain. Mwangi's spouse, Njeri, voiced deep concerns over her husband's safety, noting that she had lost contact with him. The president of the Tanganyika Law Society, Mwabukusi, has confirmed that legal teams are working to monitor the situation and seek justice for those affected by these recent events.
