Gabon lifts eight-month social-media ban, regulator says
The media regulator says it has ended restrictions imposed in February, permitting people and businesses to use social-media platforms again.
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The media regulator says it has ended restrictions imposed in February, permitting people and businesses to use social-media platforms again.
Gabon’s High Communication Authority, the country’s media regulator, announced in a televised statement on Saturday that it had lifted its eight-month social-media ban, the BBC said. The decision removes the nationwide restriction on platforms used for communication and business.
The regulator introduced the ban on 17 February, saying online content was fuelling conflict and deepening divisions in the country.
Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram are particularly popular among younger people in Gabon, a central African country of about 2.5 million people. They use the platforms for business as well as leisure, so the restrictions affected more than entertainment.
The ban began amid social unrest, including strikes by teachers and civil servants over what they said were low pay and poor working conditions. The opposition called the suspension an abuse of power.
Many people used virtual private networks, or VPNs, to get around the restrictions and continue accessing social media. The regulator now says access has been restored, but whether all four platforms are accessible across the country remains unclear.
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