Tanzania blocks X after police account hacked
Africa
By
AFP
| May 21, 2025
Tanzanians were blocked from social media platform X on Wednesday after a police account was hacked and used to falsely announce the president's death, internet watchdog NetBlocks said.
The social media shutdown comes amid the disappearance of activists Boniface Mwangi of Kenya and Agather Atuhaire of Uganda following their arrest by Tanzanian police earlier this week.
They were in the country to attend the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu who is accused of treason ahead of elections in October.
On Wednesday, Tanzanians were unable to access X unless using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), an AFP correspondent said.
"Live metrics show X (formerly Twitter) has become unreachable on major internet providers in #Tanzania; the incident comes as a compromised police account posts claims the President has died, angering the country's leadership," NetBlocks said in a statement late Tuesday.
READ MORE
Liberty Kenya half-year earnings dip 59pc to Sh260m
Continental business women join forces to boost intra-trade
Airtel's foundation to upskill African women with digital knowledge
Young Kisumu women snapping their way out of unemployment
Parliament to have say on sale of State corporations
EAC tariff loopholes create uneven playing field in trade
Three business lessons from Harambee Stars CHAN exploits
Over 128 Equity scholars to join top global universities
Family Bank half-year profit up 39pc to Sh2.3b
Is there a limit to hustling even as it is celebrated in Kenya?
Tanzania's Minister of Information, Communications and Technology Jerry William Silaa confirmed the hack in parliament, adding that the YouTube account of the country's tax authority was also infiltrated.
"The reason these accounts were compromised is that their security protocols were not sufficiently robust. These accounts have since been restored," Silaa said.
Police said they were hunting "the criminals who created and distributed the information" and warned the public against sharing the false messages.