Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — The Tanzanian government has officially confirmed the blocking of access to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, following a high-profile hack of the national police force’s account and amid intensifying scrutiny over the country’s digital content regulations.
The move comes days after internet watchdog NetBlocks reported a widespread outage of X across all major internet service providers in the country, including Halotel, Airtel, Vodacom, Liquid Telecom, and Habari Node. The outage was detected on Tuesday, May 20, just hours after the @tanpol X handle—belonging to the Tanzania Police Force and followed by more than 470,000 users—was compromised by unidentified actors.
The hacked account reportedly posted false information, including claims that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died, a development that drew sharp reactions from government officials.
“Live metrics show X (formerly Twitter) has become unreachable on major internet providers in #Tanzania; the incident comes as a compromised police account posts claims the President has died, angering the country’s leadership,” NetBlocks said in a statement.
Government Justifies Ban on X
Information, Communication and Information Technology Minister Jerry Silaa officially acknowledged the blockage on Wednesday, June 4, stating that the decision was a “deliberate step” to protect national values and enforce Tanzania’s Online Content Regulations.
Silaa cited the hosting and tolerance of pornographic content—including same-sex explicit material—as a core reason behind the government’s action, noting that this “contravenes Tanzanian laws and moral standards.”
“The internet is like the sky—what you say here will be heard by Tanzanians, whether they like it or not,” said Silaa during a press briefing in Dar es Salaam. “That’s why it’s important for the government to ensure that online content aligns with our national values and laws.”
The minister referred specifically to Section 16 of the 2000 Online Content Regulations, which defines permissible content online and prohibits the hosting or distribution of pornographic and morally offensive material.
He further noted that recent changes to X’s content policies in May 2024, following its 2023 rebranding under Elon Musk, resulted in the introduction of content deemed unacceptable under Tanzanian law.
Broader Clampdown on Digital Platforms
Silaa warned that X is not the only platform under scrutiny, hinting at a broader digital crackdown. “Even on YouTube, you might notice that some content is inaccessible. That’s part of our broader effort to protect consumers and ensure that all online platforms operating in our country comply with our laws,” he added.
The government’s move comes amid growing domestic and international concern over Tanzania’s media freedom and political climate.
Police Account Hack Linked to Political Tensions
The hacking of the police force’s X account coincided with rising tensions over the treatment of foreign activists and observers in the country. Prominent East African human rights figures had traveled to Tanzania to monitor the controversial treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Among those affected were Kenyan photojournalist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan human rights defender Agather Atuhaire, both of whom were detained by suspected military officers, tortured, and later dumped near the borders of their respective countries.
Their arrests, along with the hacking incident, have fueled criticism of President Suluhu’s administration, which activists say is increasingly intolerant of dissent and international scrutiny.
As of now, access to X remains blocked, with no clear timeline for restoration. The Tanzanian government has urged all digital platforms to revise their content practices or risk similar restrictions.
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