Tanzania announces shutdown of X because of pornography

Tanzania has blocked access to the social media platform X. The information minister, Jerry Silaa, stated it allows pornographic content. He said this content goes against Tanzania's laws and culture.

In the past two weeks, many Tanzanians reported restricted access to X. This happened amid rising political tensions and a police account hack. However, there has not been a complete shutdown of the platform.

A Tanzanian rights group criticized Silaa's comments as "digital repression." They expressed concern ahead of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in October. President Samia Suluhu Hassan's government faces accusations of increasing repression.

The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) noted that X had a similar shutdown before the 2020 election. They raised concerns about digital openness in Tanzania due to these recurring restrictions. Other platforms like Clubhouse and Telegram are also inaccessible without VPNs.

The LHRC pointed out an inconsistency in government actions. While officials confirmed blocking X, they continue using the platform themselves. This confusion undermines the government's credibility.

Silaa linked the ban to X's policy change on adult content last year. He claimed that X permits explicit sexual material against Tanzania’s online ethics guidelines. He mentioned that even YouTube restricts some content as part of protecting consumers.

On May 20, Netblocks reported that Tanzania blocked X after a police account was hacked. The hack displayed pornographic material and falsely claimed the president had died. Pornographic content also appeared on a hacked YouTube account belonging to the tax authority.

It remains unclear who conducted the hacking, but it coincided with a crackdown on human rights activists from Kenya and Uganda visiting Tanzania for support. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu is detained on treason charges after calling for election boycotts unless laws change for fair polls.

Kenya's former Justice Minister Martha Karua was deported upon arrival in Dar es Salaam before Lissu’s court appearance. Lissu denies his charges, claiming they are politically motivated.

Activists Boniface Mwangi from Kenya and Agather Atuhaire from Uganda were allowed entry but detained for days afterward. Atuhaire reported being blindfolded, stripped violently, and sexually assaulted during detention.

Mwangi also claimed he faced sexual abuse while detained and was forced to thank their president in Swahili. Dar es Salaam's police chief dismissed these allegations as mere opinions or hearsay.

Regional rights groups have called for investigations into these claims. Amnesty International urged Tanzanian authorities to hold accountable those responsible for such treatment.

President Samia stated her government will not tolerate interference from activists causing chaos in Tanzania’s affairs. She became president after John Magufuli’s death in 2021 and initially received praise for allowing more political freedom.

However, critics argue she is adopting authoritarian tendencies like Magufuli as she prepares for her first election as ruling party candidate. The government insists that Tanzania is a stable democracy where elections will be free and fair.