The government of Tanzania has blocked access to the social media platform X citing the circulation of pornographic material as the key reason behind the decision.
The announcement was made by Tanzania’s Minister for Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa, during a televised interview. He emphasized that the move is aimed at protecting public morality and ensuring that all digital content adheres to the country’s laws and cultural values.
“The internet is like the sky—what is said here will be heard by Tanzanians, whether they want to or not,” Silaa said, as reported by The Citizen. “That’s why the government must ensure that online content aligns with our national values and legal frameworks.”
Silaa framed the restriction as part of a broader effort to regulate online platforms and minimize their potential negative influence on public behavior, particularly among the youth.
Silaa stressed the government’s responsibility to regulate online platforms due to their powerful influence on public behavior and discourse. He pointed to recent policy changes made by X in May 2024, following its rebranding from Twitter in 2023, which now permit the publication of explicit adult content, including same-sex pornography—material the minister said contravenes Section 16 of Tanzania’s online ethics guidelines.
“Since X revised its content policies, it has allowed sexually explicit material that goes against our regulatory frameworks,” Silaa said. “As a government, our priority is to protect our citizens, especially the youth. Everything we do is in the interest of public safety and moral integrity.”
He also noted that X is not the only platform under scrutiny. Some content on YouTube has similarly been flagged and restricted in the country. “You may notice certain videos on YouTube are no longer accessible. That’s part of our broader effort to ensure all online services comply with Tanzanian laws,” he added.
Currently, access to X is only possible through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which allow users to bypass government restrictions by masking their IP addresses and encrypting their internet activity.
The restriction reflects a growing trend of digital content regulation in Tanzania under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, as authorities seek to balance internet freedom with cultural and legal considerations.
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