Ugandan government orders all social media platforms be blocked

Ugandan government orders all social media platforms be blocked

- The new directive comes after social media users in the country complained of being unable to access Facebook and WhatsApp

- According to a letter from the country’s communications regulator, the social networks' ban is to be effected until further notice

- The ban is suspected to be retaliation after Facebook blocked some pro-government accounts

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The government of Uganda has ordered internet service providers in the county to block all social media platforms and messaging apps.

The ban is suspected to be retaliation after Facebook blocked some pro-government accounts. Photo: UGC
The ban is suspected to be retaliation after Facebook blocked some pro-government accounts. Photo: UGC
Source: UGC

The new directive comes after social media users in the country complained of being unable to access Facebook and WhatsApp.

According to a letter from the country’s communications regulator, the social networks' ban is to be effected until further notice.

“Uganda Communications Commission hereby directs you to immediately suspend any access and use, direct or otherwise, of all social media platforms and online messaging applications over your network until further notice,” read the letter in part.

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The directive is expected to affect the majority of the aspirants in the polls slated for January 14 who widely used the social networks to campaign.

Blocked on Facebook

Briefly.co.za understands the ban is suspected to be retaliation after Facebook blocked some pro-government accounts.

The Mark Zuckerberg founded network on January 9, 2020, shut down accounts of several people in Uganda for participating in inauthentic behaviour.

The restriction affected over 50 allies of President Yoweri Museveni.

No photography

The Electoral Commission of Uganda (ECU) also issued strict guidelines on the use of cameras and recording devices at polling stations.

In a statement, ECU said photography will be restricted at polling stations as Ugandans head to the ballot on Thursday, January 14, to elect the president and MPs.

On the polling day, the poll agency warned citizens against using their phones to recorded or take photographs stating this "may jeopardise the secrecy of the ballot".

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In other serious social media news, Briefly.co.za reported that US President Donald Trump has yet again suffered another blow after video sharing platform YouTube issued a strike on his channel, which has a following of over 2.5 million people.

YouTube said Trump's channel violated its content policies after it uploaded a video with the potential of inciting people to violence.

As a result of the policy infringement, the platform said it had suspended the account's ability to upload new videos for at least seven days after which it may consider to restore the account or sustain the chokehold.

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Source: Briefly News

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