Tanzania has begun restricting total access to the social media platform “X” due to concerns over pornographic material
Speaking to Citizen TV, Information Minister Jerry Silaa said the decision was based on the platform’s failure to comply with Tanzania’s laws, cultural values, and online ethics guidelines. He specifically cited the sharing of sexually explicit content, including same-sex pornography, as a key reason for the restriction. “The content being shared on X is contrary to our laws, culture, customs, and traditions. X has permitted explicit sexual material, including same-sex pornographic content, which breaches our online ethics guidelines.” Minister Jerry Silaa Tanzanian users had reported restricted access to the platform over the past two weeks, although a full nationwide shutdown had not been confirmed until now. The move follows a period of political tension in the country, during which a government police account on X was reportedly hacked. Silaa also referenced a policy change made by X last year, in which the company announced it would allow the sharing of “consensually produced and distributed” adult content. This shift, according to the minister, prompted concern within the government and ultimately contributed to the current restrictions. The minister added that the Tanzanian government is applying similar measures across other platforms as part of a wider effort to regulate online content.