The Tanzanian government has temporarily restricted access to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, following a hacking incident that sparked nationwide alarm.
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The incident involved the official police account, which was compromised and used to falsely announce the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The misleading post quickly spread online, causing panic before authorities could respond.
Digital rights watchdog NetBlocks confirmed that major internet service providers in Tanzania have blocked access to X, with users now relying on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass the restriction. The move comes amid growing concerns from the government over misinformation and digital security threats.
Tanzania’s Minister of Information, Communications and Technology, Jerry William Silaa, addressed the matter in parliament, disclosing that the country’s revenue authority’s YouTube channel was also breached. He attributed the hacks to poor security frameworks, which he said have now been reinforced. Silaa assured the public that both accounts have been recovered and secured.
The Tanzania Police Force is actively investigating the cyberattack and has cautioned citizens against spreading the false news.
The restriction also coincides with rising tension in the country, following the reported arrest and disappearance of activists Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire. The two were taken into custody earlier this week by Tanzanian police while attending the court proceedings of opposition figure Tundu Lissu.
