Social Media Suspended in Gabon for ‘Spreading of False Information’
– Multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and WhatsApp, have been suspended in Gabon.
– The High Authority for Communication (HAC) announced this suspension, effective until further notice, citing concerns that online content is exacerbating conflict and deepening societal divisions.
– Reasons for the suspension include:
– The spread of false information
– Incidents of cyberbullying
– Unauthorized disclosure of personal data
– Internet monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed the restrictions were in place by Wednesday afternoon. Most internet providers, including Gabon Telecom, the largest telecom firm, have largely blocked access, although some limited connectivity remains.
Impact on Daily Life and Business in Gabon
– Gabon, home to about 2.5 million people, has a vibrant social media culture, particularly among the youth who leverage these platforms for both business and leisure.
– A restaurant owner in Libreville shared his concerns about how this suspension would impact his business. He estimates that nearly 40% of his customers find his restaurant through social media promotions. He stated:
– I won’t be able to catch new customers, because clients are attracted by what they are seeing, reviews from friends, pictures.
– He expressed a feeling of uncertainty about Gabon’s future, stating:
– We are entering a phase where we don’t even know if we are moving forward with global development or if we are sliding backward into total underdevelopment.
– Conversely, a taxi driver expressed indifference, remarking:
– There’s no smoke without fire. For the authorities to take such a decision, something must have certainly prompted it.
Political Context and Social Unrest
– Gabon is currently led by Gen Brice Oligui Nguema, who came into power following a coup in 2023. He won the presidential elections the same year with over 90% of the vote, marking a significant change after more than five decades of rule by the Bongo family.
– Nguema vowed to reform Gabon, a country rich in oil and timber, after a history of digital blackouts used by earlier administrations to control information flow.
– The media regulator’s spokesperson, Jean-Claude Mendome, emphasized that the suspension was necessitated by the recurrent dissemination of:
– Inappropriate, defamatory, hateful, and insulting content
– Such content undermines human dignity, social cohesion, and the stability of the Republic’s institutions, posing a threat to national security. Mendome acknowledged, however, that:
– Freedom of expression, including freedom of comment and criticism, remains a fundamental right enshrined in Gabon.
Growing Social Tribulations
– Since December, teachers have initiated strikes over pay and working conditions, with similar protests emerging across other public sectors, including health and education. This unrest illustrates the mounting grievances within the population.
As Gabon navigates these tumultuous waters, the restrictions on social media underscore the intricate balance between maintaining order and safeguarding freedom of expression. The path forward remains uncertain for this Central African nation, as it grapples with the implications of limited digital communication and increasing public dissatisfaction.