The government of Tanzania has officially confirmed it is blocking access to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), citing concerns over the platform’s allowance of pornographic material. Information Minister Jerry Silaa explained in a recent interview that the platform's content violates the East African country’s legal, cultural, and moral standards.

Silaa specifically pointed to X’s decision to permit the distribution of consensual adult content, including same-sex pornography, as a violation of Tanzania’s online content regulations.

Although the government has not confirmed a full shutdown, many Tanzanians have reported difficulty accessing X in recent weeks. The move comes at a time of increasing political tension, just months ahead of Tanzania’s presidential and parliamentary elections slated for October 2025.

Reacting to the news, the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), a prominent Tanzanian rights organization, criticized the government’s actions, describing them as part of a “troubling pattern of digital repression.” The group recalled that a similar ban was imposed on Twitter during the 2020 elections and said the repeated censorship raises “serious concerns about the openness of Tanzania’s digital space.”

Adding to public confusion is the fact that while the government confirms the restriction, public officials and institutions in Tanzania continue to use X to communicate, leading critics to label the approach inconsistent and hypocritical.

The decision to block X appears to have been triggered in part by a major security incident. On May 20, internet watchdog NetBlocks reported that X had become largely inaccessible in Tanzania after the official police account was hacked. The compromised account reportedly displayed pornographic content and falsely claimed that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died.

Additionally, pornographic material was posted on the YouTube channel of the Tanzania Revenue Authority during the same period, further raising concerns about cybersecurity lapses across government-linked platforms.

The digital restrictions are unfolding against a backdrop of intensified crackdowns on opposition figures and civil society groups. Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu was recently detained on charges of treason after he threatened to lead a boycott of the upcoming election unless electoral reforms were enacted. He denies the charges, claiming they are politically motivated.

In a dramatic turn of events, East African activists who traveled to Tanzania to show support for Lissu also faced backlash from the government. Kenya’s former Justice Minister Martha Karua was deported shortly after arriving in Dar es Salaam.

Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi were detained, with both alleging serious human rights abuses, including sexual assault, while in custody. Mwangi has publicly stated that his torturers mocked him and instructed him to thank the Tanzanian president in Swahili, “asante.”

Dar es Salaam’s police chief has denied these allegations, labeling them “hearsay” and “opinion.” However, human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have demanded thorough investigations and accountability for the alleged abuses.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of former President John Magufuli, initially received praise for rolling back some of the previous administration’s authoritarian policies. However, her critics now argue she is increasingly adopting similar tactics of suppression as she campaigns for a fresh term under the ruling party.

The government maintains that Tanzania remains a stable democracy and has promised that the upcoming elections will be transparent and fair. However, rising digital censorship, political arrests, and alleged abuses raise doubts within the international community about the direction of the country’s democratic institutions.

Tanzania’s recent actions reflect growing governmental control over digital platforms, amidst broader political unrest. As the country heads into a crucial election season, observers are closely monitoring how digital freedoms, political dissent, and human rights are being managed under President Samia’s leadership.