Tanzania blocks X because of pornography, says Information Minister Jerry Silaa

The Minister of Information said that Tanzania decided to prevent access to the social media platform X because it allows the participation of porn content.

“The content was contrary to the East African State” laws, culture, customs and traditions.

Tanzanian reported that access to X had been restricted in the past two weeks after political tensions have increased and the police account has been hacked, but there was no complete closure of the platform.

A Tangerian Rights Group published on X that Silaa’s comments reflect a “disturbing pattern of digital repression” before the presidential and parliamentary elections in October.

The government of Tanzania President Samia Soloho Hassan was accused of becoming increasingly repressive because it is campaigns to stay in office.

In his positionThe Legal and Human Rights Center (LHRC) said that X, known then Twitter, faced a similar closure in the period before the 2020 elections, and the “repetition” of restrictions raised “serious concerns about the openness of the digital space” in Tanzania.

The Law group added that the famous social audio applications club and the TELEGRAM Correspondent Service also cannot be accessed without the use of virtual private networks (VPN).

He said that while the minister confirmed the government’s role in banning X, government officials and public institutions continued to use the platform.

LHRC added: “This contradiction confuses the public and undermines the credibility of the government’s position.”

In his interview, Silaa linked the ban with the announcement of X last year that it no longer prevents the content of the adults “produced and distributed.”

The minister was quoted as saying X allowed “explicit sexual materials, including porn content of the same sex” in violating online ethics in Tanzania.

“Even on YouTube, you may notice that some content cannot be reached. This is part of our broadest effort to protect consumers and make sure that all platforms online work in our country compliance with our laws,” Sila said.

On May 20, Netblocks reported that Tanzania had prevented X after reports that the official police account had been hacked, indicating pornography and falsely claimed that the president had died.

Agence France Presse news agency reported that the porn content also appeared at the YouTube account that was hacked to the tax authority.

It is unclear who carried out piracy, but coincided with a government campaign against Kenyan human rights activists and the Oujndis who went to Tanzania to show solidarity with the main opposition leader Tindo Lesu.

He was detained on charges of betrayal after he said that he would lead a campaign to boycott the elections if the laws were not changed to allow a free and fair survey.

Martha Karwa, the former Minister of Justice in Kenya, was among those who were deported after arriving at the international airport in the main city of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, before appearing in front of Lesu.

He denies the charge of betrayal, saying that the case is political.

The Kenyan activist Bonifas Mwanji and Atuhare Aturea were allowed to enter, but they were detained for several days.

After returning home, Atuhaire BBC told the eyes that she was blindfolded, “violently” she was stripped and sexually assaulted.

On Monday, Mwanji said he was also sexual abuse in detention and told him to torture him to say “My Asan” (thank you in the Swahili language) to their president.

Dar Al Salam police chief denied these allegations, saying they were “opinions” and “significance.”

Regional rights groups called for an investigation, and Amnesty International said that the Tanzanian authorities should be represented in the account of those responsible for “inhuman” treatment.

President Samia said that her government will not tolerate activists from other East African countries “interfering” in Tanzania affairs and cause “chaos.”

After the death of the 2021, the presidency inherited from the then President John Magovili, and was widely praised for allowing more political freedom.

But its critics say that it shows the same authoritarian trends as Maguuli, as it is preparing to compete for its first elections as a presidential candidate for the ruling party.

The government says Tanzania is a stable democracy, and the survey will be free and fair.