Somalia’s Ministry of Communications and Technology is directing Internet Service Providers to Block Access to TikTok, Telegram, and 1xBet Gambling Website.
The government made the move prior to an eagerly awaited second stage of a military campaign against Al-Shabaab, the Islamist extremist organization responsible for a violent uprising against the central government in Mogadishu for over 15 years.
Through an official statement, the ministry of communications and technology has directed internet service providers to enact a ban before August 24. Failure to comply may result in unspecified legal consequences.
“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 prohibition follows a communication, internet, and social media security conference arranged by the ministry, culminating in the issuance of this instruction. It alleges that they were being used by “terrorists” to spread propaganda.
Highlighting the significance of this choice, the ministry emphasized the adverse effects of these platforms on the well-being of young Somalis.
Communications and Technology Minister Jama Hassan Khalif was the one to make this announcement.
“You are being ordered to shut down the applications mentioned above by Thursday August 24, 2023 at 11:30 evening, at the latest,” Khalif said in the statement. “Anyone who does not follow this order will face clear and appropriate legal measures.”
Khalifa stated that Somalia has adopted the contentious ban in order to ”protect the moral behavior of the Somali community when using communication and internet tools.”
“These sites are misused, they have created security problems, they are used to destroy the security and society, they promote immoral behavior,” he said.
“Due to this great need to ban them it is the right time to take this decision.”
TikTok, a video-sharing platform renowned for its trending challenges and concise content, has faced prior reproach from numerous African governments for promoting trends that could detrimentally affect susceptible individuals.
In the previous week, TikTok released a statement announcing its involvement in a sequence of workshops conducted in Somalia, collaborating with diverse stakeholders with the objective of ensuring the platform’s security.
“In Somalia, our team removed over 280,000 videos during the same period that violated its guidelines,” the statement said.
“We detected and removed 98.7% of these violating videos before they were reported. Our proactive approach showcases our commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant platform for our users.”
Likewise, Telegram, a messaging application frequently utilized for confidential group conversations, has sparked security apprehensions throughout Africa, given its potential to facilitate unlawful undertakings.
The militant organization Al-Shabab frequently employs Telegram’s messaging platform to distribute its videos, issue press releases, and share audio recordings of interviews with their leaders.
Al-Shabab consistently publishes updates about its assaults on Telegram and websites, often within minutes of the incidents. The group is known for swiftly establishing new accounts on Telegram after their previous ones have been removed.
In a parallel vein, 1XBet has elicited concerns about the risk of gambling dependency among young people.
The exact count of individuals utilizing betting platforms within the country was not disclosed by Somali authorities. However, they expressed the belief that these sites are sending substantial sums of money out of the nation.
Khalif mentioned that the engagement in 1XBET gambling is proving to be a diversion even for government soldiers who are dedicated to safeguarding the nation.
“We know the use is expansive,” he said.
He mentioned that the government lacks information about the individuals responsible for these sites within the country.
“That kind of money is not Halal (permissible), no one taxes it, no one knowns what they are and where they come from; and it’s crime.”
Khalif noted that these three platforms have exerted a notable influence on the experiences of young Somalis.
The readily available nature of these platforms has resulted in a sharp increase in their adoption by the younger demographic, prompting worries about the likelihood of adverse impacts and misuse.
At present, Kenya’s National Assembly is examining a petition that calls for a TikTok prohibition, citing inadequate oversight and apprehensions regarding explicit material.
The petition contends that TikTok’s explicit content contradicts Kenya’s cultural and religious principles by propagating violence, hate speech, and indecency.
