What’s behind Tanzania’s decision to block X?
The government of Tanzania has blocked access to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saying the platform now allows pornographic content that violates national laws and social values.
Information Minister Jerry Silaa confirmed the restriction in a recent televised interview, saying the decision was made to protect public morals and regulate the kind of material Tanzanians are exposed to online.
He pointed to recent changes in the platform’s content policy, made in May 2024, which now allow explicit sexual content, including same-sex pornography.
Tanzanian officials say this directly contradicts the country’s online ethics code, particularly Section 16, which outlines acceptable digital content.
“Since X updated its content guidelines, it has allowed pornographic material that is not in line with our national standards. We are doing this to protect our people, especially young people, from harmful content,” Silaa said in comments reported by Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Petro leaves presidential palace as De la Espriella takes office
He explained that while the internet is open and far-reaching, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that online content does not erode cultural values or break national laws.
“What you post online can reach all Tanzanians, even those who don’t want to see it. That is why we must act,” he said.
X, which rebranded from Twitter after being bought by billionaire Elon Musk in 2022, has taken a more permissive approach to content moderation under its new leadership.
The platform now permits adult content, provided it is labelled, which critics say makes it easier for such material to spread widely in countries with more conservative laws and norms.
Tanzania’s move adds to a growing list of countries wrestling with how to manage global platforms within local legal and moral frameworks.
Users in Tanzania can now only access X through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which allow people to bypass government restrictions by hiding their location and encrypting their internet use.
Silaa also said YouTube has faced similar scrutiny, with certain videos no longer available in the country due to their content.
