Tanzania blocks access to X after hackers target official police account
Internet watchdog group NetBlocks confirmed the development, saying that the platform had become unreachable on all major internet providers across Tanzania.
Tanzania has once again blocked access to the social media platform X, just months after a similar shutdown.
The disruption came hours after the official account of the Tanzania Police Force was hacked and used to spread false claims that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died.
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Internet watchdog group NetBlocks confirmed the development, saying that the platform had become unreachable on all major internet providers across Tanzania.
“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,” the group said in a post on X.
The cyberattack sparked outrage among top officials and came just a day after President Samia ordered police to take action to “protect” social media platforms.
She said the move was necessary to safeguard national interests.
Government officials quickly dismissed the fake announcement about her death, but the damage had already triggered the country’s second X blackout in less than 10 months.
The situation has raised concerns among internet rights advocates, especially given the country's growing restrictions on free speech and digital platforms.
The Tanzania Police Force has already launched an investigation and issued a stern warning after its official X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked and used to spread false and misleading information, including fake news about the death of a senior national leader.
The police clarified that none of the content shared from its official X account originated from the Force.
“The circulating information is entirely false. The Police Force does not, and would never, publish such content through its official platforms,” the statement said.
The Force confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify the perpetrators of the cyberattack and hold them accountable. The public has been urged to disregard the fake messages and avoid forwarding or sharing them.
“We urge members of the public to ignore the disinformation and avoid becoming channels for its distribution. Legal action will be taken against any individual found to be involved in creating, disseminating, or amplifying such misleading content,” the statement added.
This hacking incident is part of a wider cyberattack that also targeted other high-profile Tanzanian X accounts, including those of Simba SC, media personality Odemba, and telecom company Airtel Tanzania. The same false message about the death of a prominent leader was posted across these compromised accounts, alarming users until the affected parties issued clarifications.
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