JOHANNESBURG — The federal government of Mauritius on Friday banned entry to social media web sites forward of parliamentary elections on Nov. 10 during which Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth is searching for a second time period in energy.
The directive was introduced by the nationwide communications regulator, which mentioned social media websites will likely be banned till Nov. 11, the day after the election.
The unprecedented social media ban follows a wiretapping scandal which rocked the nation final month when recorded conversations of politicians, enterprise folks, and members of civil society had been leaked on social media.
In response to media freedom advocacy group Reporters With out Borders, the recorded conversations of 5 well-known journalists had been additionally printed on social media.
The federal government of the Indian Ocean island nation, which has a inhabitants of 1.2 million, has claimed that these leaks are a menace to nationwide safety and instructed the communications authority to droop all entry to social media.
“The ICT Authority needs to tell the general public that in response to issues relating to unlawful postings that represent a severe menace to nationwide safety and public security, it has obtained directives within the night of 31 October 2024, to direct all Web Service Suppliers to quickly droop entry to all social media platforms till 11 November 2024”, the Info and Communication Expertise Authority mentioned on Friday.
Community service supplier EMTEL mentioned on Friday it could adjust to the directive and person expertise will likely be “progressively disrupted”.
“EMTEL understands the inconvenience that this motion shall trigger to its prospects however reiterates that it has no various apart from to adjust to ICTA directive”, it mentioned.
Native media on Friday quoted a press release from the prime minister’s workplace saying the suspension of social media was important to guard nationwide safety and the nation’s integrity.
It mentioned a disaster committee was assembly to include “current dangers”.
