- Gabon blocks Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and WhatsApp
- Authorities cite fake news, cyberbullying and data breaches as motivations
- VPN demand has skyrocketed as citizens look for solutions
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 on Tuesday night, followed by a sharp increase on Wednesday morning as residents searched for tools to bypass the blocks.
Proton VPN confirmed a massive increase in registrations from the country. CEO David Peterson told TechRadar that usage is currently 8,000% above the daily average, “and continuing to rise.”
Peterson noted that Gabon has a history of digital blackouts during politically sensitive periods, and current events follow a similar trend seen in 2023, when Proton VPN saw registration spikes of up to 25,000%.
In a televised announcement on Tuesday, Jean-Claude Mendome, spokesperson for the High Authority for Communication (HAC), announced the immediate suspension of social networks to prevent the “spread of false information.” He also stated that the measures were necessary to protect national unity and prevent social conflicts.
The ban coincides with a wave of cost-of-living protests that began in December.
Digital rights experts are not convinced by the official explanation. Felicia Anthonio, global #KeepItOn campaign director at Access Now, told TechRadar that the real reason behind these blockades is to “quell protests and silence dissent.”
He added that it is “disappointing” to see the current administration resort to the same Internet shutdown tactics used by previous regimes.
Anthonio explained that blocking access to social media is a “flagrant violation of fundamental rights” that affects everything from keeping in touch with loved ones to doing business online.
“We call on the government to establish a new standard of Internet access throughout the country, allowing people to connect, inform themselves and exercise their rights online,” he said.
Can Gabonese citizens still connect to the Internet?
Currently, VPNs do not appear to be restricted. “So far we have not seen 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 people in Gabon 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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