Tanzania broke access to x amid Cyberattacks on government account

Tanzanian officials have stopped people from using the social media site X, which used to be called Twitter, because of a series of cyberattacks that targeted government accounts with fake and inappropriate content.

This decision comes as political tensions rise before the general elections in the country scheduled for October. The shutdown is part of a larger effort to manage the consequences of the attacks, which officials claim threaten public safety and national security.

The crackdown started after the official account of the Tanzanian Police Force was hacked late Tuesday. The hackers used this account to spread pornographic content and post fake announcements, including a false and scary claim about the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

Authorities quickly worked to remove the harmful content and have begun a formal investigation to find and punish those responsible for the cyberattacks.

Officials have not said when access to X will be available again, but they have encouraged the public to use verified government sources for accurate information.