Tanzania has implemented an extreme measure by restricting access to the social media platform X, citing the platform’s permissibility of pornographic and LGBTQ+ content as incompatible with the country’s cultural values and laws.
Information Minister Jerry Silaa announced the decision on Wednesday, emphasising that X’s policies permitting “consensually produced and distributed” adult content violate Tanzania’s “laws, culture, customs, and traditions.”
Government cites pornographic content as reason for blocking X
The shutdown followed a cyberattack on May 20 when hackers compromised official government accounts, including the Tanzania Police Force’s X profile. The attackers posted explicit pornographic images and falsely announced the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. This incident and X’s policy changes allowing adult content prompted the government to restrict access to the platform nationwide.
Minister Silaa stated, “X now has pornography and homosexuality, which are all contrary to our country’s laws, culture, customs, and traditions.” He linked the ban to the platform’s failure to comply with Tanzania’s online ethical guidelines. Similar restrictions have been applied to YouTube as part of the government’s broader effort to safeguard consumers and enforce national laws.
Political context and digital rights concerns
The ban’s timing coincides with rising political tensions ahead of Tanzania’s presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2025. Critics argue the move is part of a broader crackdown on opposition voices and digital freedoms. Human rights groups warn that the ban represents a “disturbing trend of digital suppression,” recalling similar restrictions placed on X before the 2020 elections.
Despite the ban, government officials and public entities continue to use X, leading to accusations of inconsistency and undermining public trust. The Tanzanian Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has also criminalised using VPNs to bypass the ban, threatening fines and imprisonment for unauthorised access.
Digital rights organisations, including the Internet Governance Tanzania Working Group and Access Now, have condemned the shutdown and urged the government to restore access to the platform. They highlight X’s role in facilitating political discourse, civic activism, and information sharing, especially during sensitive electoral periods.
The government maintains that the restrictions are necessary to protect national security and uphold Tanzanian cultural values. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has defended the decision, asserting that Tanzania cannot be “an open field where anyone can come and say whatever they want”.
This development highlights the ongoing tension between preserving traditional norms and ensuring freedom of expression in Tanzania’s digital space. As the elections approach, the debate over internet governance and human rights is set to intensify.
