JUST IN: Tanzania bans X over porn scandal

The government of Tanzania has blocked access to X, formerly known as Twitter, claiming the platform promotes pornographic content that violates national culture and values, amid growing criticism over digital repression ahead of the 2025 elections.

Information Minister Jerry Silaa announced the move during an interview with a local television station.

He accused X of allowing explicit sexual material, including same-sex pornography, in breach of Tanzania’s online ethics guidelines.

“This violates our laws, our traditions, and our customs,” Silaa declared.

However, the shutdown has sparked fury among digital rights activists and opposition groups, who see the ban as a cover for silencing dissent ahead of the crucial October general elections.

The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), a leading Tanzanian rights group, condemned the move.

In a post on X, it described the government’s actions as a “troubling pattern of digital repression.”

They noted that X was similarly restricted during the 2020 elections, and that the recurrence of censorship raises alarm about the shrinking digital space in the country.

The group further slammed the hypocrisy of the government.

While X is blocked, several government institutions and officials continue to use the platform to communicate with the public.

“This inconsistency confuses the public and undermines the credibility of the government’s position,” LHRC wrote.

The government’s explanation came days after reports of restricted access to X, Telegram, and Clubhouse, which users could only bypass via Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

NetBlocks, an internet monitoring agency, had earlier confirmed that X became unavailable on 20 May, shortly after the official Tanzanian police X account was hacked.

Ghe hacked account posted pornographic content and a false claim that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died.

AFP later reported similar pornographic hacking incidents involving the YouTube account of the Tanzania Revenue Authority.

Though the identity of the hackers remains unknown, the incidents occurred during a broader government crackdown on East African human rights campaigners.

These activists had arrived in Tanzania to support Tundu Lissu, the opposition leader now facing a treason charge after threatening to boycott the elections unless electoral laws are reformed.

Kenya’s former Justice Minister Martha Karua was deported upon arrival at Dar es Salaam airport.

Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi were detained and allegedly tortured while in Tanzanian custody.

Atuhaire told the BBC she was blindfolded, stripped violently, and sexually assaulted by security officers.

Mwangi later stated he also suffered sexual abuse during detention, and was forced to say “asante” (thank you) to the Tanzanian president during the ordeal.

Police in Dar es Salaam dismissed the torture claims, calling them “hearsay” and “opinions.”

Amnesty International and other regional rights groups have called for urgent investigations into the allegations and for those responsible for such inhuman treatment to be held accountable.

President Samia, who initially received praise for opening political space after taking office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli, is now being accused of mirroring Magufuli’s authoritarian tactics as she prepares for her first election as ruling party flagbearer.

She warned that her government would not allow foreign activists to interfere in Tanzania’s internal affairs, accusing them of causing chaos.

Despite the clampdown, the government insists the elections will be free and fair and that Tanzania remains a stable democracy.

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