By Madalitso Mtukula
The government of Tanzania has blocked access to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, accusing it of allowing the distribution of pornographic content in violation of national laws and moral standards.
The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) confirmed the move on Wednesday, saying the platform had failed to take action despite repeated warnings. The authority stated that the government had made several attempts to engage X’s management regarding the removal of explicit content but received no meaningful response.
“We have observed a rise in indecent and pornographic content being circulated on platform X,” said TCRA Director-General Jabiri Bakari. “This is against our country’s laws and values. After exhausting all channels of communication, we had no choice but to block access.”
The shutdown has sparked debate across the country, with some users expressing outrage over the ban, which they view as an attack on digital freedom. Many Tanzanians were unable to access the platform by Wednesday morning unless they used Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions.
Civil society groups and digital rights advocates have criticized the move, warning it could set a precedent for censorship. “While protecting citizens from harmful content is important, blanket bans threaten free expression and reduce accountability,” said one activist from the Tanzania Internet Governance Forum.
Tanzania has in recent years tightened its grip on online content through the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations. These laws prohibit the publication of obscene material and require online platforms to comply with government content standards. It remains unclear when or if the ban on X will be lifted.
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