- Gabon blocks Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and WhatsApp
- Authorities cite fake news, cyberbullying and data breaches as motivations.
- Demand for VPNs has soared as citizens look for workarounds
Residents of Gabon are turning to VPN services to stay online after the government imposed an indefinite ban on all major social media platforms. Internet watchdog NetBlocks confirmed on Wednesday that Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and WhatsApp are currently restricted.
Google Trends data shows that search volume for “VPN” began to increase Tuesday evening, followed by a sharp increase Wednesday morning as residents searched for tools to bypass the blocks.
Proton VPN has confirmed a massive increase in registrations from the country. CEO David Peterson told TechRadar that usage is currently 8,000% higher than the daily average, “and continuing to increase.”
Peterson noted that Gabon has a history of digital outages during politically sensitive times, with current events following a similar trend seen in 2023, when Proton VPN saw sign-up spikes of up to 25,000%.
In a television announcement on Tuesday, Jean-Claude Mendome, spokesperson for the High Authority for Communication (HAC), announced the immediate suspension of social networks to avoid the “dissemination of false information”. He also said these measures were necessary to protect national unity and prevent social conflicts.
The ban coincides with a wave of protests against the cost of living that began in December.
Digital rights experts are not convinced by the official explanation. Felicia Anthonio, head of the global #KeepItOn campaign at Access Now, told TechRadar that the real reason behind the blockages is “to quell protests and silence dissent.”
She added that it is “disappointing” to see the current administration resorting to the same Internet shutdown tactics used by previous regimes.
Anthonio explained that blocking access to social media is a “blatant violation of fundamental rights” that impacts everything from staying in touch with loved ones to conducting business online.
“We are calling on the government to set a new standard for internet access across the country, enabling people to connect, learn and exercise their rights online,” she said.
Can Gabonese citizens still connect to the Internet?
VPNs currently do not appear to be restricted. “So far, we have not observed any attempts to block VPNs in Gabon. Proton remains fully accessible even without using the Stealth protocol,” Peterson said.
To help document the extent of censorship, Anthonio encourages Gabonese people to install and run the OONI Probe app. This tool allows users to document which specific platforms are restricted, creating critical evidence for future accountability.
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