Mauritius suspends access to social media ahead of parliamentary elections

The authorities of Mauritius connected Friday banned entree to societal media websites up of parliamentary elections later this month

JOHANNESBURG -- The authorities of Mauritius connected Friday banned entree to societal media websites up of parliamentary elections connected Nov. 10 successful which Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth is seeking a 2nd word successful power.

The directive was announced by nan nationalist communications regulator, which said societal media sites will beryllium banned until Nov. 11, nan time aft nan election.

The unprecedented societal media prohibition follows a wiretapping ungraded which rocked nan state past period erstwhile recorded conversations of politicians, business people, and members of civilian nine were leaked connected societal media.

According to media state defense group Reporters Without Borders, nan recorded conversations of 5 well-known journalists were besides published connected societal media.

The authorities of nan Indian Ocean land country, which has a organization of 1.2 million, has claimed that these leaks are a threat to nationalist information and instructed nan communications authority to suspend each entree to societal media.

“The ICT Authority wishes to pass nan nationalist that successful consequence to concerns regarding forbidden postings that represent a superior threat to nationalist information and nationalist safety, it has received directives successful nan evening of 31 October 2024, to nonstop each Internet Service Providers to temporarily suspend entree to each societal media platforms until 11 November 2024”, nan Information and Communication Technology Authority said connected Friday.

Network work supplier EMTEL said connected Friday it would comply pinch nan directive and personification acquisition will beryllium “progressively disrupted”.

“EMTEL understands nan inconvenience that this action shall origin to its customers but reiterates that it has nary replacement different than to comply pinch ICTA directive”, it said.

Local media connected Friday quoted a connection from nan premier minister's agency saying nan suspension of societal media was basal to protect nationalist information and nan country's integrity.

It said a situation committee was gathering to incorporate “existing risks”.