Tanzania has blocked access to X after hackers falsely declared the President dead, while critics say the real casualty is civil liberty.
At a Glance
- Tanzania blocked X after hackers posted a fake death announcement for President Samia Suluhu Hassan
- Citizens are using illegal VPNs to access the platform amid rising fears of government censorship
- The timing coincides with the mysterious detention of foreign activists attending an opposition tria
- Officials cite weak security protocols for the hack, but offer no explanation for the broad digital blackout
- The case highlights how authoritarian regimes can swiftly weaponize internet access against dissent
Panic Post Sparks State Power Play
When hackers commandeered the Tanzanian police’s official X account to falsely announce President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s death, the government’s response was swift and sweeping. Within hours, X became unreachable on every major ISP in the country. According to watchdog group NetBlocks, access remains cut as authorities scramble to contain what they call a “cybersecurity breach.”
Watch a report: Tanzania Cuts Off X After Hack
But critics argue the real breach is of civil liberties. Tanzanians now require VPNs to reach the platform, tools that are technically illegal to use without government approval. The move has drawn comparisons to authoritarian crackdowns in places like Myanmar and Iran, where digital platforms are silenced at the first hint of political dissent.
Timing Too Convenient to Ignore
The blackout coincides with a high-profile treason trial against opposition leader Tundu Lissu. It also follows the sudden arrest of two foreign activists—Kenya’s Boniface Mwangi and Uganda’s Agather Atuhaire—who were en route to observe the trial. Their current whereabouts are unknown, fueling fears that the blackout may be more about suppressing scrutiny than combating cybercrime.
President Hassan has reportedly warned against foreign “meddling,” saying such presence could create “chaos.” Meanwhile, families of the detained activists are pleading for answers as rights groups condemn the clampdown.
Excuses and Evasions
Information Minister Jerry Silaa confirmed the hack and blamed “insufficiently robust” security protocols. But he offered no justification for the platform-wide ban that’s now affecting millions of users. Critics suspect the government is using the incident as a pretext to crack down on free expression, especially content tied to political dissent or investigative scrutiny.
“The reason these accounts were compromised is that their security protocols were not sufficiently robust,” Silaa said, adding, “These accounts have since been restored.” But restoring trust in Tanzania’s digital freedoms may prove harder.
Global Implications
This incident underscores a chilling reality: in fragile democracies and authoritarian regimes, digital platforms can be silenced in seconds when governments feel threatened. Whether it’s a false tweet, a treason trial, or an inconvenient activist, the switch can be flipped without warning.
As watchdogs continue to monitor the situation, Tanzania’s blackout raises urgent questions about digital rights, foreign influence, and the fragility of free speech in the age of authoritarian tech control.
