DRC government decided to block social media in a bid to prevent the dissemination of images through these networks. The decision was made through a letter addressed to telecommunications companies and internet service providers by ARPTC, the country’s telecommunications regulatory authority.
According to the letter, the decision talks about a preventive measure against what the regulator terms “abusive” sharing of images through social media.
“In order to prevent abusive sharing of images through social media by subscribers of your network, I request you to take, upon receipt of this letter, preventive technical measures that would reduce to the strict minimum the ability to share images” reads the letter.
The measure targets virtually all social media often used for content sharing. It is believed the government took this decision following the violence that shook Kinshasa and the province of Kongo Central in the morning of 7 August 2017.
If implemented, this will be the third time that the Government demands telephone companies and internet service providers to either cut Internet or interfere to curtail service.