Somalia Bans Telegram, TikTok, Many More. See Why!
Somalia’s Ministry of Communications and Technology has ordered internet service providers to block access to social media platforms TikTok and Telegram and the gambling website 1xBet.
The decision was given by Jama Hassan Khalif, Minister of Communications and Technology, in a statement posted on Sunday, August 20, citing security and combatting terrorism as grounds for barring the firms. He further said that the platforms were having a harmful influence on the lives of Somali kids.
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According to Khalif, Somalia imposed the contentious restriction to “protect the moral behaviour of the Somali community when using communication and internet tools.”
Part of the statement read;
“In a bid to accelerate the war and elimination of the terrorists who have shed the blood of the Somali people, the minister of communication and technology instructs companies that provide internet services to suspend TikTok, Telegram, and 1XBET betting applications, which terrorists and groups responsible for spreading immorality use to spread graphic clips, photos and mislead society.”
The easy accessibility of the platforms has led to a surge in their use among the young population, raising concerns about the potential for negative influences and exploitation.
Kenya’s National Assembly is currently reviewing a petition seeking a TikTok ban due to insufficient regulation and concerns over explicit content”