Social media users in Tanzania may have faced restricted access to the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) following the administration’s decision to shut down the service. This marks the second time in less than a year that Tanzania has blocked access to the platform, raising ongoing concerns about digital freedoms in the country. The internet observatory group NetBlocks confirmed the disruption on Tuesday, May 20, reporting that X had become inaccessible across major internet service providers in the country. According to reports by Kenyans.co.ke, the shutdown may have been triggered by a cybersecurity breach involving the official X account of the Tanzania Police Force (TANPOL). Suspected hackers allegedly infiltrated the account and used it to spread false information about President Samia Suluhu Hassan. While the government has not publicly explained the decision, the move has once again raised serious concerns about digital censorship and the future of online freedoms in Tanzania.

Human rights advocates and press freedom groups have increasingly criticized the country’s tightening grip on digital platforms, warning that such actions undermine free expression and democratic accountability. Tanzania has, over the years, steadily expanded its control over digital spaces by imposing various restrictions on social media usage and online expression. A key moment in Tanzania’s tightening control over digital space came in 2017 with the passage of the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, later amended in 2020 to criminalise content deemed obscene, hateful, or disruptive. Ahead of the 2020 general election, the government blocked social media and messaging apps and restricted SMS use, further curbing online communication. During this period, platforms considered essential and accessible—such as Twitter (now X), WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram—were either blocked or restricted. In 2024, Tanzanian Internet Service Providers—including Airtel, Vodacom, Halotel, Tigo, and TTCL—blocked access to X (formerly Twitter), rendering the platform inaccessible nationwide and sparking renewed concerns over digital freedom. The move followed police claims that opposition party CHADEMA was using Zoom to coordinate protests involving small groups targeting offices and police stations.

Earlier this month, the government intensified its enforcement of the 2017 online content law by shutting down over 80,000 websites, social media accounts, blogs, and other platforms. While authorities cited the protection of children’s mental health, critics saw it as the country’s largest and most troubling digital purge yet. This pattern reflects a broader continental trend. Internet shutdowns have become increasingly frequent across Africa. In 2023 alone, sub-Saharan Africa lost an estimated $1.74 billion due to government-induced internet disruptions. The region recorded 114 shutdowns across 23 countries in 2022, 50 in 21 countries in 2021, 93 in 21 countries in 2020, and 134 in 22 countries in 2019.