Gabon’s interim government has suspended major social media platforms nationwide in a bid to pressure Meta into negotiations over content moderation.
Gabon has blocked access to platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok, affecting an estimated 2.5 million users. Authorities cited the spread of “inappropriate, defamatory, hateful and abusive content” threatening “national security” and social cohesion.
The High Authority for Communication said the suspension was necessary to push Meta into talks after more than a year of unsuccessful outreach.
Officials said the aim was to establish stronger content moderation mechanisms and “guarantee a safe digital environment that respects the law and protects Gabonese users.” Presidential spokesperson Jennyfer Mélodie Sambat indicated Meta had since made contact. However, opposition figure Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze condemned the move as an “absurd decision,” while many citizens turned to VPNs to bypass the restrictions.