Mauritius blocks social media until after election amid wiretapping row
Al Jazeera
The leak of audio tapes that preceded the ban involved politicians, journalists and even foreign diplomats.
Mauritius has cut access to all social media platforms until November 11, a day after its upcoming general election.
The move on Friday came amid a wiretapping scandal, and even as the opposition raised the alarm about an alleged ploy by the governing party to avoid defeat at the polls.
The Indian Ocean island nation’s communications regulator ordered all internet service providers to suspend access to social media until November 11 in response to “illegal postings”.
The office of Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said the restrictions were necessary to preserve national security and integrity, following the publication of “certain” audio clips.
“A crisis committee is currently meeting to contain the existing risks as soon as possible,” the office of Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said in a statement.
