On August 1, 2025, Borkena, an independent news platform focused on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, published an article alleging that the Ethiopian Government was weaponing digital tool to silence critics. It stated that Ethiopia’s political environment had grown increasingly fragile and polarized—particularly under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the ruling Prosperity Party (PP)—the government had adopted a more authoritarian approach to digital governance. The platform further stated that various strategies are being employed to suppress dissent, manage public perception, and contain the growing wave of criticism in a bid to preserve the ruling party’s credibility and prevent further erosion of public trust. These strategies include: Ethiopia’s state agencies—including NISS, INSA, the Federal Police, and telecom operators like Ethio Telecom and Safaricom—collaborate to monitor citizens’ communications using advanced tools such as Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to track internet traffic, call records, SMS, and social media activity in real time. Government has also exerted control over platforms beyond its jurisdiction, the Ethiopian government has directly engaged with social media companies such as Meta (Facebook), X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, and Telegram. Tactics include sending legal complaints, takedown requests, and threatening letters accusing specific accounts of inciting violence or spreading misinformation and uses vague laws on cybercrime, terrorism, hate speech, and misinformation to target journalists, bloggers, and digital activists. These laws are applied selectively to justify censorship, arrests, and intimidation, forcing many media outlets into self-censorship

Business and Human Rights Resource Centre invited Meta (Facebook), X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, Telegram, Ethio Telecom and Safaricom to respond.

The telegram stated that the platform does not participate in political censorship and has not closed activist accounts in Ethiopia or anywhere else. Telegram said the platform supports the right to peaceful free speech.

Meta responded by stating that its mission is to build the future of human connection and the technology. That Meta is committed to fostering a safe and authentic online environment while safeguarding fundamental rights and freedoms and seek to champion respect for human rights in every action taken and every product built. The company also stated that it has transparently reported on its human rights efforts in its annual human rights report, which include specific case studies from Africa — including from Ethiopia.

Safaricom responded by stating that the company unequivocally denies the allegations in the referenced media report suggesting that it collaborates with Ethiopian state agencies—or any government—to monitor communications using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) or any other technology. These claims are entirely false, misleading, and unsupported by any credible evidence. Safaricom operates in full compliance with all applicable laws and is committed to protecting the privacy and security of its customers’ communications.

TikTok, YouTube, Ethio Telecom and Twitter (X) did not respond

Full statements from Telegram, Meta and Safaricom are attached above