Tanzanian authorities have shut down access to the social media platform X following a cyberattack that hijacked the official police account to spread false news claiming President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died. The fake post quickly went viral, causing widespread confusion across the country.
In response, the government cut off X access through major internet providers, as reported by the online monitoring group NetBlocks. This move was intended to stop the misinformation from spreading further and to prevent public panic while officials dealt with the security breach.
Tanzania’s police force issued a statement denying any connection to the false announcement, clarifying that it did not come from any official police source. They urged citizens not to share or believe the misleading message and confirmed that efforts are ongoing to identify and arrest the perpetrators behind the hack.
The incident has heightened concerns in Tanzania about how digital platforms can be exploited to spread disinformation. The government’s suspension of X is seen as a temporary step to control the fallout and restore calm while investigations proceed.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been confirmed to be alive and well, with officials assuring the public that measures are in place to return the nation to normalcy after the disruption.
