The recent move to block X is part of a broader trend of increasing digital censorship in Tanzania, raising alarms ahead of the upcoming elections.
**Tanzania Blocks Access to X Amid Concerns Over Online Repression**
**Tanzania Blocks Access to X Amid Concerns Over Online Repression**
Tanzanian government restricts access to social media platform X, citing concerns over pornography and political repression.
Tanzania's government has announced a significant restriction on access to the social media platform X, claiming it allows the dissemination of pornographic content, as stated by Information Minister Jerry Silaa. This decision stems from the government's view that such material contradicts the country's "laws, culture, customs, and traditions." Reports indicate that access to X has been increasingly restricted over the past fortnight, coinciding with a rise in political tensions and a series of hacks, including one involving the police's official account.
A Tanzanian rights organization criticized the government for its "troubling pattern of digital repression" as the country approaches presidential and parliamentary elections slated for October. The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) highlighted that similar restrictions were imposed on X prior to the last elections in 2020, leading to concerns about the integrity of the digital space in Tanzania.
Moreover, the government is accused of using digital platforms while simultaneously restricting public access, muddying the clarity of its position on social media usage. The minister mentioned that the platform's allowance of "consensually produced and distributed" adult content is a key factor in the ban, further stating that X has hosted explicit sexual content, including same-sex pornography, which allegedly breaches Tanzania's online ethics.
In addition, internet watchdog Netblocks documented that access to X was blocked following a particularly embarrassing hack involving the police account, infamously publishing explicit material and erroneously announcing the president's death. This incident has intensified scrutiny as it occurred against the backdrop of a government crackdown on regional human rights activists.
Notably, opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who has called for electoral reforms to enhance fairness in the electoral process, has been facing political charges, including treason. High-profile activists from neighboring countries who attempted to support Lissu have faced deportation and detention, with some alleging severe abuses during their time in custody.
Despite initial promises of political freedom from President Samia Suluhu Hassan, her administration's recent actions have drawn parallels to the authoritarian practices of her predecessor, John Magufuli. As Tanzania prepares for its electoral process, the government's claims of a stable democracy seem increasingly at odds with the mounting evidence of repressive measures against dissenters.
Calls for investigations into human rights violations have surfaced, as regional rights advocates and organizations like Amnesty International demand accountability from Tanzanian authorities amid an environment of rising digital censorship and political repression.
A Tanzanian rights organization criticized the government for its "troubling pattern of digital repression" as the country approaches presidential and parliamentary elections slated for October. The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) highlighted that similar restrictions were imposed on X prior to the last elections in 2020, leading to concerns about the integrity of the digital space in Tanzania.
Moreover, the government is accused of using digital platforms while simultaneously restricting public access, muddying the clarity of its position on social media usage. The minister mentioned that the platform's allowance of "consensually produced and distributed" adult content is a key factor in the ban, further stating that X has hosted explicit sexual content, including same-sex pornography, which allegedly breaches Tanzania's online ethics.
In addition, internet watchdog Netblocks documented that access to X was blocked following a particularly embarrassing hack involving the police account, infamously publishing explicit material and erroneously announcing the president's death. This incident has intensified scrutiny as it occurred against the backdrop of a government crackdown on regional human rights activists.
Notably, opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who has called for electoral reforms to enhance fairness in the electoral process, has been facing political charges, including treason. High-profile activists from neighboring countries who attempted to support Lissu have faced deportation and detention, with some alleging severe abuses during their time in custody.
Despite initial promises of political freedom from President Samia Suluhu Hassan, her administration's recent actions have drawn parallels to the authoritarian practices of her predecessor, John Magufuli. As Tanzania prepares for its electoral process, the government's claims of a stable democracy seem increasingly at odds with the mounting evidence of repressive measures against dissenters.
Calls for investigations into human rights violations have surfaced, as regional rights advocates and organizations like Amnesty International demand accountability from Tanzanian authorities amid an environment of rising digital censorship and political repression.
