Mauritius lifts social media ban

Mauritius has lifted the social media restrictions it imposed less than 48 hours ago, citing concerns over cyber-terrorism risks.

Mauritius’ communications regulator had earlier directed all internet service providers to block access to social media platforms until November 11, following a wiretapping scandal that has shaken the nation.

Mauritius Telecom announced on Saturday that all social media platforms were now “fully accessible.”

Since mid-October, around 20 conversations involving politicians, police, lawyers, journalists, and civil society members have been leaked on social media, according to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.

Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth stated that an inquiry had been launched and arrests had been made, though he did not provide specific details. He also mentioned that the government was in talks with social media companies, as reported by Wazaa FM radio.

Civil society groups, including the Internet Governance Forum and the Internet Society, have strongly opposed the shutdown. In a joint statement, they argued that blocking digital access would “stifle democratic processes” and also harm the economy, disrupt businesses, and limit access to essential information and services. “The dangers of shutting down the internet far outweigh any perceived benefits,” they emphasized.

People turned to VPNs to bypass the restrictions, with Top10VPN reporting a 9,547% surge in demand for VPN services on November 1, compared to the daily average over the past 28 days.